Fhjlng-jisli Flijhl. 1 (»3 



llic vi<;our of tlic (la|)]»iiit,^ v:uyin<r more or less regularly with 

 tlio (lirt'C'tioii ill wliicli tlicy meet tlie wiml. It is moro than 

 )irol)al)le that the c'liaii<;e of wing-speed of the fish varies for 

 similar reasons in degree of rapidity, soaring being, as I have 

 endeavoured to show, quite outi of the question. From what- 

 ever cause, it certainly does so vary. 



A curious thing about the " vibration " periods is that they 

 seem to oflc'r Hetting glinij)scs of a satisfactory wing; for a 

 n oment, now and again, the wings have outlines and edges, 

 and w ill also occasionally return a sun-glare to the eye from 

 their wet glassy surfaces, such as n)ight be expected from 

 them when not whirring. Such a glare is also now and then 

 momentarily to be seen when a fish ceases flying, and just 

 before it strikes the water, if it be in the proper position with 

 regard to the sun. There would, of course, be many long 

 periods of this glare were the wings really still. 



One or two more prominent fallacies are handed on from 

 writer to writer, and often accepted as facts. One is that the 

 fish are helped in their flight by the distention of their air- 

 bladder. If such had any aj)preciable effect it would be that 

 of imj^eding the flight, for the contained air being under 

 comj)ression would be denser and therefore heavier than the 

 outside air, and the increased size of the fish would merely 

 check its speed as a hollow bullet is cheeked. 



Steering-power is also denied to the fish by most naturalists. 

 It is, nevertheless, a matter of common seafaring knowledge 

 that they turn with deliberate intention. I have myself 

 watched one fly towards the ship, and, circling back, finisli its 

 flight in adireetion straight away from the ship. It approacheil 

 within a yard or so of the side, close under where 1 was 

 standing. The check of speed on its Hrst taking alarm was 

 marked, and during tlie turn of half a circle of about JO or 

 12 feet radius which it made it couM not have been flying at 

 a rate of more than three or four miles an hour. 



Again, they rise quite at will, though this power also is 

 denied by aeroplanists. With reference to this, as well as 

 to their power of steering, the late Earl of Tem broke, ur 

 Doctor G. II. Kingsley, joint authors of ' JSouth-Sou 

 Bubbles,' says (p. Gi, 7tli ed., ISUO) :—" Flying- lish 

 du fly, moving their pectcual tins with extreme rapidity, 

 moreover, they raise and lower themselves over the tops ut 



the waves, and do not dip into them, 1 ri-member 



between I'anama and Kapa I used to see the cabin's bulls' 

 eyes surrounded by a circle of scales every njorning left there 

 by flying-flsh." They were making for the light. i\'o 

 ingenuity can fasten this upon " currents of air," which are 



