Page:Magic book, or, The whole art of ledgeremain.pdf/6

6 person who performs the trick, with a pin bent like a hook—the cane passing under the thread near to the egg serves for it to rest on—when the music begins, the performer pushes the cane from left to right, or from right to left; it then appears as if the egg ran along the cane, which it does not, being fastened to its thread, its centre of gravity remains always at the same distance from the hook that holds it; it is the cane which sliding along presents its different points to the surface of the egg.—N.B. To produce the illusion, and persuade the company that it is the egg which carries itself toward the different points of the cane, the performer turns a little on his heel, by this means the egg receives a motion which deceives the spectators, it remaining always at the same distance from the point to which it is fastened.

The Fascinated Bird.

Take any bird, and lay it on a table; then wave a small feather over its eyes, and it will appear as dead, but taking the feather away, it will revive again. Let it lay hold of the stem part if the feather, and it will twist and turn like a parrot; you may likewise roll it about, on the table just as you please.