SLICKING FOR FLYINGFISHES 



grown fish. The great variety of pattern and color 

 in the same species, and their continued proximity 

 to the sargassum weed, hint that the shift of hue and 

 shadow, and the parti-colored parasitic growths on 

 this weed must be a valuable protection, in addi- 

 tion to the activity in sea and air of the fish them- 

 selves. 



Some of the little chaps have red bodies, others 

 red and yellow, either fore-and-aft patterns, or a 

 succession of red bands. The wings may be solid 

 chocolate-brown, black or mottled, or variegated 

 with scarlet, white, blue and gold. They often show 

 colors and patterns as soft and delicate as those 

 of great moths, and, like some of those insects, the 

 brilliant hues are invisible in the closed wings and 

 flash out only when the fins are spread in flight. 



Another delicate refinement of adaptation was 

 exhibited by a different species of young flyingfish. 

 These were few in number, small, and quite pale, 

 chiefly with transparent wings touched with blue. 

 They were to be seen only in the slicks barren of 

 weed and, guided by an infallible, inherited in- 

 stinct, they would have nothing to do with the float- 

 ing meadows. True to their pigment, they preferred 

 the open sea, and flew out and away when fright- 

 ened. If they were to win through and live it must 

 be by kindness of the open sea and sky. 



At this stage — one to two inches — these young 

 flyingfish exhibit another feature as unexpected as 

 their rainbow hues. From the front and sides of 

 the lower jaw fleshy barbels or aprons grow out — 



65 



