DWELLERS IN THE DEEP 



213 



for a short distance, at least, as well as catch 

 the wind like a flattened sail. 



This flight of the flying fish often serves him 

 in good stead, but it does not invariably fur- 

 nish a safe exit from danger. The albicore or 

 tunny travels as fast under the water as the 

 fish in the air. Let the flier turn at a sharp 

 angle and the albicore does likewise. The chase 

 is thus often long-continued. The wings of the 

 flier become weary. Perhaps he dips into the 

 sea, striking his tail first, or plunges through 

 the crest of a wave head first, for a second, and 

 then is once more in the air. The contact with 

 the water seems to renew his strength; and 

 yet he wearies the second time sooner than the 

 first. At last, after many descents and flights, 

 perhaps the albicore leaps from the water and 

 the remorseless jaw closes upon the exhausted 

 flier in mid-air. 



In addition to albicores, dolphins, bonitos, 

 porpoises — all kinds of ocean racers — the flying 

 fish has also enemies in the air. When his pur- 

 suers in the sea force him from the water, the 

 birds of prey hawk at him from above. Be- 

 tween them both he is often sadly beset, and 

 yet strangely enough his numbers do not seem 

 to decrease. He holds his own in spite of ad- 

 versities. 



Chased hy 

 the albicore. 



The 

 capture. 



Bird 



enimies of 

 the jli/ing 

 fish. 



