The Flying Fistt 



than an eighth of a mile, rarely rising more than 3 or 4 feet. 

 Their movements in the water are extremely rapid; the sole source 

 of motive power is the action of the strong tail while in the 

 water. No force is acquired while the fish is in the air. On 

 rising from the water the movements of the tail are continued 

 until the whole body is out of the water. While the tail is in 

 motion the pectoral fins seem to be in a state of rapid vibration, 

 but this is apparent only, due to the resistance of the air to 

 the motions of the animal. While the tail is in the water the 

 ventrals are folded. When the action of the tail ceases, the pec- 

 torals and ventrals are spread out and held at rest. They are 

 not used as wings, but act rather as parachutes to hold the body 

 in the air. When the fish begins to fall, the tail touches the 

 water, when its motion again begins, and with it the apparent 

 motion of the pectorals. It is thus enabled to resume its flight, 

 which it finishes finally with a splash. While in the air it re- 

 sembles a large dragon-fly. The motion is very swift, at first in 

 a straight line, but later deflected in a curve. The motion has 

 no relation to the direction of the wind. When a vessel is 

 passing through a school of these fishes, they spring up before 

 it, moving in all directions, as grasshoppers in a meadow before 

 the mower. 



During a winter voyage from Norfolk to Porto Rico flying- 

 fish were seen at nearly all times. The species was chiefly 

 Parexoccetus mesogaster, and they were particularly abundant 

 between Savannah and the Bahamas, in the Windward and Mona 

 passages, and along the north coasts of Cuba, Santo Domingo, 

 and Porto Rico. 



And as one goes from San Francisco to Honolulu in June 

 great schools of the same species greet the vessel as it comes 

 in sight of Diamond Head, and continue to play about it until 

 well within the harbour. 



245 



