NATURE'S OWN SEAPLANES HUBBS 



337 



a 



::z b 



ar7rajt.r 



FiGDBB 1. — Four stages In tlie flight of a cjpsilurine flying fish. Reproduced by permission 

 from Papers of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters. 



a, the fish approaches the surface, botli pairs of fins folded ; 6, the fish breaks the 

 surface and spreads the pectoral fliis (upper or anterior planes) to support the anterior 

 part of the body ; c, the flsh gains speed l)y the taxi or surface-skimming. The. caudal 

 beats the water ; the body sliakcs ; and the wing tips flutter in response, giving a false 

 Illusion of wing beating; d, the Ilsh takes off l)y spreading the pelvic fln.s, thus lifting 

 the tail out of tlie water. The planes are now held taut and rigid as the flying flsh 

 dashes through the, air. 



