110 MALACOP. ABDOM. PIKE FAMILY. 



of flying is effected in two ways : first, there is a 

 spring or leap, by which the fish is raised out of the 

 water ; and then the pectoral fins are spread, and 

 employed to propel the fish in a forward direction, 

 either by a few flappings, or by the motion that is 

 analogous to the skimming of swallows. It is quite 

 true that they have not the power of elevating 

 themselves in the air in an undulating direction, as 

 we see in swallows ; the course of their flight being 

 always that of a very slight arch, the height of 

 which, we believe, varies with the species ; those 

 near the equinoxial line towards America, have a 

 low flight, so that though innumerable flocks rose 

 round the vessel in all directions, not one ascended 

 sufficiently high to fall into it ; whilst in other cir- 

 cumstances they have fallen into ships from fourteen 

 to twenty feet above the water. Sometimes they 

 fly off in an obliquely angular direction from that 

 which they at first took ; an important fact, because 

 it proves that this flying is effected, not merely by 

 a leap, but by the action of the fins and tail, just 

 as these members are used to influence the course of 

 birds ; although the mode in which the pectorals 

 are used for this purpose we do not pretend to un- 

 derstand." (Loc. cit. i. 297 — 9). Mr. Swainson 

 states his persuasion that a number double that of 

 the described species really exists ; Dr. Richardson 

 catalogues four species as visiting the North Ame- 

 rican shores ; while one is, and more, probably 

 are, occasional though rare visitors of the British 

 seas. 



