F L \' I N G - F I S H E S 



235 



^^^- 



noticed, are enabled, b}- reason of the 



great development of the breast-fins, 



to take extended journeys through 



the air. The flight of these fishes 



is, however, not quite the same as 



true flight, inasmuch as the fins serve 



mainly as a parachute, and do not, b\' 



sustained \'igorous movements, propel 



the body through the air, like the 



wings of bats and birds. Darting out 



of the water when pursued by an 



enemy or frightened by a passing 



vessel, these fish are borne along 



by the wdnd, the speed at first being 



very considerable, exceeding indeed 



that of a ship going ten miles an 



hour. At a single flight the\- ma\- 



cover as much as 500 feet, but are 



quite unable to steer themselves, 



except when, during their course, the tail-fin is immersed in the water, when b\- a stroke 



from one side to the other the direction may be changed from left to right, or vice versa, 



as the case may be. By day they will avoid ships, but b\- night, when they are unable to 



see, " they frequently fly," writes Dr. Gunther, " against the weather-board, where they are 



caught by the current of air and carried upwards to a height of 20 feet above the surface 



of the water, while under ordinar\' circumstances they keep close to it." 



FLYING-FISH 



Ahre than forcf dhur(t species of this family are ircivn 



CHAPTER VI 



THE IfRJSSE-LIKE f/SHES 



BY W. P. PYCRAFT. A.L.S., F.Z.S. 



THE members of the four families noticed in this chapter are remarkable for their won- 

 derful coloration. The species of the first family, from their peculiarly striking re- 

 semblance to the Scaly-finned group, share with them the name of COR.-VL-FISHES. This 

 resemblance is a very remarkable one. Occurring, like the Scaly-fins, more abundantly in the 

 neighbourhood of coral-reefs, they also resemble the latter not only in shape, but also in colora- 

 tion, the same pattern being often common to members of both families. 



To this family belongs the remarkable fish known as the Amphiprion, which makes its 

 home in the interior of an enormous species of sea-anemone measuring 2 feet across. When 

 first discovered by Mr. Saville-Kent, it was believed that the fish had been swallowed — a view, 

 however, which was speedily rejected, when it was found that, if ejected by means of a stick, 

 it invariably returned. Thus the anemone is obviously to be regarded as host, and not as 

 captor. More than this, from the facts so far to hand, it appears that this strangely assorted 

 pair are mutually dependent on one another, at least to a large extent — the fish undertaking 

 to supply the larder, whilst the anemone in return affords shelter from enemies. The part 

 played by each is as follows: — The fish, which is very conspicuous, wearing a livery of 

 vermilion crossed by three bands of white, sallies forth and swims about till it attracts the 

 attention of some other carnivorous member of its class, on which, if it gives chase, the 

 amphiprion returns with all speed to its living cave, and quickly disappears down its mouth. 

 The pursuer, blundering against the outspread tentacles, is immediately paralj-sed by a shower 



