Animal Locomotion Or Walking Swimming and Flying With a Dissertation on Aëronautics

In the book 'Animal Locomotion: Walking Swimming and Flying' by J. Bell Pettigrew the author delves into the mechanics of animal movement. He discusses the similarities between walking swimming and flying highlighting the importance of understanding the media animals traverse and the shape and size of their travelling surfaces. Pettigrew explores the concept of weight in motion and the utilization of weight in flight swimming and walking. He also examines the structure and function of fins flippers and wings drawing parallels between sea mammals fish and flying creatures. Through observations and experiments Pettigrew demonstrates how curved figure-of-8 surfaces resembling screws generate wave pressure for propulsion in fluid media. Additionally he critiques current propeller designs and proposes more efficient models based on the fish-tail and wing principles. Pettigrew's research presented in lectures and memoirs showcases his pioneering insights into animal locomotion and the mechanisms behind walking swimming and flying.