thaumatrope

/thaw-muh-trohp/US // ˈθɔ məˌtroʊp //UK // (ˈθɔːməˌtrəʊp) //

虎头蛇尾,虎头蛇尾的人,虎皮鹦鹉,虎皮石斛

Definitions

n.名词 noun

1
- : a card with different pictures on opposite sides, as a horse on one side and a rider on the other, which appear as if combined when the card is twirled rapidly, thus illustrating the persistence of visual impressions.

These memories lie in confusion, unformed and undefined, like pictures in a thaumatrope.
The thaumatrope, then, did nothing more than illustrate the power of the eye to weld together a couple of alternating impressions.
Why do the figures upon the "Thaumatrope" appear to dance, when they are made to revolve before a mirror?