CHAPTER XI 



THE VERSATILE GURNARD 



A flying gurnard, from the point of view of limb 

 function, finds its nearest allies among bats and 

 angels, its fins functioning distinctly as hands, feet 

 and wings. As regards the scope of its life activi- 

 ties it is almost in a class by itself, for while angels 

 and bats have conquered only two elements, a 

 flying gurnard is at home not only in water and 

 air but is able to trot easily about on solid earth 

 bottom. In fact the latter mode of progression 

 seems to be its favorite. 



I have seen gurnards rise and scale away from 

 the path of a vessel, and I have had a school of 

 half grown ones slap against the side of a rowboat. 

 In the young fish the fins are too short for flight, 

 but even a two-incher will leap out and spread his 

 diminutive, batlike wings, only to flop back at 

 once. At best they are less skillful aviateurs than 

 the true flying fish. This is reflected in many 

 body characters such as wing support, the tips 

 of the pectoral rays being simple and not multiple- 

 branched. The head of the gurnard is encased in 

 solid, heavy armor. To offset this excess of weight 

 anteriorly there is a monoplane arrangement 



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