572 



THE FLYING FISH. 



valuable manure. The refuse of each Pilchard is calculated to manure 

 one square foot of land. 



The far-famed Flying Fish exists in many of the warmer seas, and 

 derives its popular name from its wonderful powers of sustaining itself 

 in the air. 



The passage of this fish through the atmosphere can lay no just claim 

 to the title of flight, for the creature does not flap the wing-like pectoral 

 fins on which it is upborne, and it is not believed even to possess the 

 power of changing its course. 



In allusion to the habits of this remarkable fish, Mr, F. D. Bennett, 

 in his Narrative of a Whaling Voyage, \ms the following valuable re- 

 marks: 



" The principal external agents employed in this mode of locomotion 

 are the large lobe of the tail fin and the broad transparent pectoral 



The Flying Fish {Exocoetus volitans). 



fins, which, on this occasion, serve at least as a parachute, and which, 

 being situated close to the back, place the centre of suspension higher 

 than the centre of gravity. It is also curious to notice how well the 

 specific gravity of the fish can be regulated, in correspondence with 

 the element through which it may move. The swim-bladder, when 

 perfectly distended, occupies nearly the entire cavity of the abdomen 

 and contains a large quantity of air, and in addition to this there 

 is a membrane in the mouth which can be inflated through the gills, 

 these two reservoirs of air affording good substitutes for the air-cells 

 so freely distributed within the bones of birds, and having the addi- 

 tional advantage of being voluntary in their function. 



*' The pectoral fins, though so large when expanded, can be folded into 



