BOOMERANG, a missile instrument for war, sport, or the chase, in use by the aborig ines of Australia. It is of of a bent form; the shape is parabolic. It is about 2 and a half in, broad, a third of an inch thick,. and ft. long, the extrem ities being rounded. One side is flat, the other rounded; and it is breuglit to a bluntish edge. The method of using this remarkable weapon consists in throwing it in n particular manner. It is taken by one end, with the bulged aide downwards, and the Convex edge forward, and thrown directly onward, as if to hit some one thirty yards in advance.. Instead of going directly forward, as might be expected, and there 5iilBug to the ground, it slowly ascends in the air, whirling round and round, and describing a curved line of progress till it readies a considerable height, when it begins to retrograde, and finally it sweeps over the head of the projector, and falls behind hint. This sur
prising motion is produced by the bulged side of the missile. The air impinging thereon, lifts the instrument in the air, exactly as by hitting the oblique bars in a windmill, it forces it to go round. The ingenuity of the contrivance, tvhich is worthy of the highest scientific calculation, is very extraordinary as coming from almost the lowest race of mankind. The B. is one of the ancient instruments of war of the natives of Australia. They are said to be very dexterous in hitting birds with it, the animals being of course behind them, and perhaps not aware that they are objects of attack. This curiosity, as it must be called, was first made known by being brought before the royal Irish acad emy by prof. 3i'Cullagh in May,' 1837.