Fig. 158.
It is a small piece of light wood, two inches long, one-sixth of an inch thick, half an inch broad.
At its two ends are two holes, C and D, which receive two pins, around which the legs and arms of the figure play. At each end also is a small receptacle, nearly concentric with the holes C and D, having an oblique prolongation towards the middle of the piece of wood. From their ends proceed two grooves, G and F, in the wood, a-twelfth of an inch wide.
Nearly fill one of these receptacles with quicksilver, and glue pasteboard on the sides to close it up.
To the axis passing through C fix two legs with long feet. The other has the arms with hands so placed as to become a base when the figure is turned backwards. On the G H part a head of elder-pith is glued, painted and dressed with a wig and cap. The body is made of the same substance, and a silk petticoat or skirted coat is added.
To prevent the figure or its legs turning any more after reaching the resting-place of the feet, two small pegs are made to meet a prolongation of the thighs.
Fig. 159.
Fig. 160.