1G2 



Lt.-Cul. C. D. DmufoRl on 



* [Qu. suhli/feo? — Eds.] 



The Falco siihlatio s\\oyvn has a weiglit of 509 grammes and 

 a wing-area of 1684 .sq. cm., with ratio of 5" 138, and the 

 Corvus comix has a weiglit of 37-i grammes and a wing-area 

 of 1156 sq. cm., giving a ratio of 4*717. 



Our one-pound flying-tisli, to enable it to sail, would thus 

 require a wing-area between three and four times greater 

 than the 400 sq. cm. which it possesses. And, mark this, 

 even then it would only sail as birds sail, in favourable winds 

 and circumstancf s, falling and rising and using the " rowing " 

 flight frequently, as may be necessary, not as our fishes go, 

 " without regard to the direction of the wind,*' horizontally, 

 and close to the water, and, according to aeroplanists, with 

 ever still wings ! Further, " concave bird-like surfaces 

 afford from three to seven times as much support as planes" 

 (Encyc. Brit., art. Aeronautics — re flight). It has been 

 pointed out to me that it is extremely improbable that a 

 flying-fish's wings can assume this concave shape. If this be 

 FO, " from nine to twenty-eight'' may be substituted for the 

 " between three and four" times above. 



Need I go on? I am afraid so — superstitions, especially 

 learned ones, die hard. So to the second parallel offered us, 

 the parachute. The term implies the act of falling through 

 the air, and not the horizontal or the rising motion v/ith 

 which we are dealing. Still, the word has been used in 

 explanation of the fish's supposed deeds, and I will try to 



