| As the thaumatrope appeared in stores, Dr. Ayrton published a book explaining the scientific principles underlying the toy. |
| Below you see the two sides of an early 20th century thaumatrope of a horse and circus bare back rider. |
| The names evoke arcane, ancient mysteries: the thaumatrope, the phenakistoscope, the zoetrope. |
| When you spin the thaumatrope, the images appear to combine, putting the parrot inside the birdcage. |
| You might also notice as the thaumatrope spins that the illusion is the strongest near its center line, or axis, where the pictures are most continuously visible. |
| As the thaumatrope spins, the series of quick flashes is interpreted as one continuous image. |
