260 THE HAUNTS OF LIFE 



the beginning of flight, and there is no reason 

 why this should be called impossible. It has 

 to be remembered, however, that though the 

 muscles of the pectoral fins of flying fishes are 

 larger in proportion than in related fishes, 

 they are not much larger. It follows that 

 there cannot be much striking of the air. At 

 the most, there is only a beginning of flying. 

 Recent studies of flying fishes have shown 

 that the "flight" differs greatly according to 

 the atmospheric conditions. It is short when 

 the air is still; it is long when there is a 

 breeze. In fact the " flight" of flying fishes 

 sometimes approaches the "sailing" of the 

 vulture and the albatross. 



(B) Another attempt has been made by 

 some tree-toads, which take flying jumps from 

 branch to branch. In our common frog there 

 is a familiar web on the large hind-feet, which 

 is obviously well suited for striking the 

 water in swimming. In the flying tree-toad, 

 Rhacophorus, there is a web between the 

 fingers as well as between the toes, and thus 

 the animal has four parachutes. 



(C) There is something fascinating in the 

 little Flying Lizard, Draco volans, of the 

 Malay States, which has gone far towards 



