144 



THE FLYING FISH. 



All animals are provided with some the movement of their fins. The best 



means of protection from the attacks authorities, however, claim that they 



of their enemies and with ways of es- do not possess the power of changing 



caping from any object which they the direction, velocity, or altitude of 



may fear. The means furnished to the their flight and the position of the fins 



Fly ing Fishes is one of the most unique is not voluntarily changed, and that 



and interesting. their object in leaving the water is not 



To escape the larger fishes that prey for food. 



upon them, or when frightened by a They rise without reference to the 

 passing vessel, these fishes will rise direction of the wind or waves, and fre- 

 from the surface of the water and with quently, when their course is at an 

 distended but quiet fins pass over a dis- angle with the wind, the direction of 

 tance of several feet. They have been their flight may be changed by the 

 known to rise to a height of twelve or air currents or by contact with the 

 more feet and fly for one hundred or waves. The direction is also modified, 

 more yards, although the height and when passing close to the water, by mi- 

 distance traveled is usually much less, mersing the tail fin and moving it with 

 This power of flight is due to the great a rudder like motion, 

 development of the breast (pectoral) There are two groups of Flying 

 fins, situated on the sides of the body Fishes, both natives of tropical and 

 near the head. sub-tropical seas. In one of the groups 



Some writers have stated that these there are less than five species, while 



fishes left the water for the purpose of classed under the other there are fifty 



catching insect food and that they had or more, 

 the power of regulating their flight by 



EDITOR'S NOTE. 



On account of inaccuracies in the report of Mr, Chapman's lecture, 

 which was quoted in the June number of this Magazine, it is only due to 

 Mr. Chapman that we publish the following letter received from him: 



To THE EDITOR OF BIRDS AND NATURE: 



Dear Sir: In the June issue of your magazine there appeared an alleged abstract 

 from a lecture by me on the "Structure and Habits of Birds," which so abounds in 

 errors that I beg you will permit me to state that the matter published was a newspaper 

 report, for which I am in no way responsible. Yours respectfully, 



FRANK M. CHAPMAN. 



