Some Ocean Aeronauts 347 



individuals of five or six inches about three and 

 a half cubic inches of gas. Thus equipped, the 

 fish is well prepared by nature to bound into 

 the air and amaze all observers by its extraor- 

 dinary soaring powers and sustaining qualities. 

 As the steamer ploughed across the channel 

 I placed myself, camera in hand, in a port, about 

 ten feet above the cutwater, from the immediate 

 vicinity of which the fishes were darting every 

 few seconds. I first observed them when there 

 was no wind. I could see them as the steamer 

 approached swimming a foot below the surface, 

 the long fins folded and dragging by their 

 sides, the motive power evidently being the tail. 

 As the steamer drew nearer they darted to the 

 surface, beginning a furious twisting of the long- 

 lobed tail which acted as a screw and drove the 

 fish out of the water. Sometimes during three 

 or four seconds I would see the tail vigorously 

 twisting, calling to mind a propeller. Here was 

 the motive power; and so violent were the mo- 

 tions of this extraordinary organ that they im- 

 parted to the entire fish a series of quick tremors 

 which in turn were transmitted to the " wings " 

 or fins giving them the appearance of fluttering 

 or moving up and down. But the wing move- 

 ment was involuntary, and the moment the tail 

 ceased whirling and the fish was clear of the 

 water the fins appeared to become rigid and the 

 fish, one or two feet above the water, poised at 



