On the Flight of Flying -fish. 389 



L V. — Ohservations on the Flight of Flying-fish 

 (Exocoetus, sp. incertce). By G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton. 



In reply to a request for advice on the subject, Mr. Boulenger 

 lias been good enough to inform me that, despite what has 

 been already written, there is still room for a small contribu- 

 tion to the literature of the flight of flying-fish. Hence 

 arose the following notes, the result of much study of these 

 beautiful creatures during several ocean voyage.?. 



The precise use of the so-called "wings" of flying-fish 

 and the nature of their flight have given rise to much discussion 

 amongst naturalists, some of whom, as Professor G. O. 

 Whitman*, hotly maintain that the wings are flapped, while 

 others, amongst whom are Professor K. Mobius *, deny that 

 genuine muscular movements ever occur. Although I have 

 never enjoyed the opportunity of observing the flight of the 

 flying-gurnards {Dactylopferus), I have frequently and care- 

 fully watched and studied that of the flying-herrings, with 

 the result that I can thoroughly corroborate the late Professor 

 Moseley's observation f that in this genus at all events the 

 wings are never moved as organs of true flight. They may 

 vibrate or quiver under the action of air-currents or the 

 shifting a little of their inclination by the fish; the whole 

 motive power is supplied by the powerful tail. The wings 

 are a parachute to augment the action of this propeller. 

 Their motions are in no way comparable to those of the wings 

 of a bird. 



Whatever objections may be raised against observations 

 taken from the artificial height of the deck of an ocean- 

 going steamer, this method affords an unrivalled opportunity 

 of overlooking the expanded pectorals as the fish emerge 

 from the water almost directly beneath the observer. Again, 

 since the cause of the numerous flights which take place in 

 the immediate proximity of the ship is undoubtedly fear at 

 her approach, the fish which thus come under observation 

 invariably use their utmost powers of flight, and, could any 

 single one of them voluntarily flap its wings, it would certainly 

 do so to the extent of its entire ability. A careful observer 



* See K. Mcibius, "Die Bewet^-imgen der fliegenden Fiscbe durcli 

 die Luft," Zeitschrift fiir wissenschaftliclie Zoologie, Siippl, vol. xxx. 

 p. 343 (1878); and C. 0. Whitmau, 'American Naturalist,' vol. xiv. 

 p. 641 (1880). 



t H. N. Moseley, " Notes by a Naturalist on the Voyage of H.M.S. 

 'Challenger,'" new edition, 1892, p. 495; an opinion formed also by 

 Mr. W. L. Distant, ' A Naturalist in the Transvaal,' 1892, pp. 2-4. 



