ANTERIOR LIMBS OF BIRDS, KTC. 85 



fins. Dr. Abel also supports this opinion, 

 as agreeing with his experience ; and says, 

 that he has repeatedly seen the motion of 

 the fins during flight, and as flight is "only 

 swimming in the air," it appears natural that 

 those organs should be used in the same 

 manner in both elements. To this, Mr. Ben- 

 nett judiciously adds, that in fish the principal 

 organ for propelling them through the water, 

 is the tail, the fins serving to direct the 

 course ; that the structure of a fin is not 

 that of a wing ; and that the pectoral wings 

 or fins of the flying-fish are simply enlarged 

 fins, capable of supporting, but not of pro- 

 pelling, the animal in its flight. 



" The greatest length of time," continues 

 Mr. Bennett, "that I have seen these volatile 

 fish on the fin, has been thirty seconds by 

 the watch, and their longest flight mentioned 

 by captain Hall, has been two hundred yards ; 

 but he thinks that subsequent observation has 

 extended the space. The most usual height 

 of flight, as seen above the surface of the 

 water, is from two to three feet ; but I have 

 known them come on board at a height of 

 fourteen feet and upwards, and they have 

 been well ascertained to come into the channels 



