Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 64.djvu/144

140 of their strength all are so light that his trained assistants send the giant kites up into the air as easily as the little fellows.

The kite shown in Fig. 5 is tetrahedral in form and built of sixteen tetrahedral cells. This was the first tetrahedral kite constructed by Dr. Bell. It is a wonderful flier, darting up from the ground with a shrill whistle and climbing to extraordinary heights. It is a pretty sight to see the operator bring the kite in after the experiment is over.

The kite flies steadily without a turn or quiver as the line is reeled in and finally alights on his hand as gently as a bird. Figs. 6 and 7 show a sixty-four-celled kite made of four kites like the preceding. The kite is two meters on a side. The most remarkable feature of this kite, aside from its perfect equilibrium and steadiness in squalls, is its ability to fly almost directly overhead. Even in the lightest breeze I have rarely seen it flying at an angle of less than eighty degrees. The kite is admirably adapted for meteorological observations at great heights, as it can carry considerable weight with the greatest ease. Fig. 8 shows a kite of the same size but with sixteen cells instead of