26o THE HAUNTS OF LIFE 



the beginning of flight, and there is no reason 

 why this should be called impossible. It has 

 to be remembered, however, that though the 

 muscles of the pectoral fins of flying fishes are 

 larger in proportion than in related fishes, they 

 are not much larger. It follows that there 

 cannot be much striking of the air. At the 

 most, there is only a beginning of flying. 



Recent studies of flying fishes have shown 

 that the "flight" differs greatly according to 

 the atmospheric conditions. It is short when 

 the air is still ; it is long when there is a breeze. 

 In fact the " flight" of flying fishes sometimes 

 approaches the " sailing" of the vulture and 

 the albatross. 



(B) Another attempt has been made by 

 some tree-toads, which take flying jumps 

 from branch to branch. In our common frog 

 there is a familiar web on the large hind-feet, 

 which is obviously well suited for striking the 

 water in swimming. In the flying tree-toad, 

 Rhacophorus, there is a web between the fingers 

 as well as between the toes, and thus the animal 

 has four parachutes. 



(C) There is something fascinating in the 

 little Flying Lizard, Draco volans, of the Malay 

 States, which has gone far towards flight on an 



