FLYING FISHES. 311 



At last, the poor Flying Fishes become too ex- 

 hausted to continue the race, and, one by one, they 

 fall into the jaws of the Coryphene, which exactly 

 times its leaps so as to receive them as they fall back 

 into the water. 



There are one or two points about the air trespass- 

 ing structure of the Flying Fish which are worthy of 

 notice. The first is, that the pectoral fins or wings 

 are set very much higher on the back than those of 

 ordinary fishes, so that when the fish is in the air the 

 centre of gravity is much below them, and the balance 

 is rightly preserved. 



The organ of propulsion in the Flying Fish is the 

 tail, which is large, and lengthened into two long and 

 sharply-pointed lobes, the lower much exceeding the 

 upper in length. It is thus formed into an exceedingly 

 powerful instrument, and it is by the violent sidewa} s 

 movement of the tail that the fish can project itself 

 into the air. It is worthy of remark that the tail of 

 its terrible pursuer, the Coryphene, is constructed 

 after a similar principle, the lobes being long, and each 

 running to a sharp point. 



Yet another point in which the air trespassing 

 power of the Flying Fish is increased. The reader will 

 remember that I have already mentioned sundry con- 

 trivances for ensuring buoyancy when needed. A 

 similar provision is found in the Flying Fish. The 

 air-bladder is of very great size, and when fully 

 inflated, occupies nearly the entire cavity of the 

 abdomen. Besides this, there is a corresponding 

 arrangement which renders the fore part of the fish 

 equally buoyant, and this is done by means of a mem- 



