THE GAR-FISH. 321 



leave their own element for that of the finny race, to dive through the water with 

 such marvellous address that they can chase and capture even the swift and active 

 fishes, and can remain submerged for a much longer period than the Flying-fish can 

 remain in the air. Flying and swimming are indeed convertible terms, as are wings and 

 fins, wings being the fins of the air, and fins the wings of the waters. 



It is well known that the flight of this fish is short and intermittent, the creature 

 being obliged to dip into the sea after its sweep through the air, and the cause of this 

 necessity is said to be the drying of the fin-membranes, which prevents the fish from 

 sustaining itself in the air, inasmuch as it leaps with fresh vigor into the atmosphere 

 after being refreshed by a dip in the water. I cannot but think, however, that one rea- 

 son of the intermittent flight is simply that the original impetus is exhausted, and that 

 the fish requires to seek the water in order to obtain a fresh start. There may, per- 

 haps, be another reason. 



It has already been mentioned that the climbing perch, and other fish of similar habits, 

 possess certain reservoirs of water, which constantly bathe the gills, and thus oxygenize 

 the blood in the same method that is adopted when the body is entirely submerged in 

 the waters. Now, the Flying-fish possesses no such reservoir, and the question there- 

 fore, arises, whether the passage through the air may not act powerfully on the blood by 

 supplying it with an excess of oxygen, and, through the blood, upon the nervous system, 

 producing a kind of temporary delirium or intoxication. It would be an interesting 

 experiment to catch a Flying-fish after its flight, and test the temperature of the blood 

 with a trustworthy instrument, and also to ascertain the length of time that a Flying- 

 fish can survive when removed from the water. 



Perhaps some of my readers may have the opportunity of making these investigations, 

 and of solving some of the countless divine enigmas which surround us. It may be 

 that if the full history of the Flying-fish were discovered, we should find therein not 

 only the operations of nature as exemplified in the individual species, but discover en- 

 shrined within the limits of that delicate framework the deepest mysteries of vitality, 

 health, and a material locomotion of which we have as yet hardly dreamed. 



About thirty species of Flying-fish are known, mostly belonging to the Mediterranean 

 Sea, but others occur in the North Sea, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. 



BEFORE proceeding to our next figured example of the finny tribes, we must briefly 

 notice a curious fish which seems to be a kind of balance to the sword-fish already 

 mentioned, the " sword " in this instance belonging to the lower instead of the upper 

 jaw, and being formed by a prolongation of its bones. It is known by the, scientific 

 name of Hemiramphus argenteus, and is found near the surface of the water in the Pacific 

 Ocean. Its color is uniform silvery white, and its average length is only four inches. 



THE odd-looking GAR-FISH is known by a vast variety of names, such as SEA PIKE, 

 MACKAREL GUIDE, SEA-NEEDLE, LONG-NOSE, GORE-BILL, HORNFISH, and GREENBONE 

 the last mentioned title being given to it because, when it is boiled, its bones are of a 

 bright green hue. The name of Mackarel Guide is owing to the fact that its spawning 

 season exactly precedes that of the mackarel, and the other names explain themselves. 



This is one of the marine fish ,and is sometimes taken and sent to market, generally 

 causing some little excitement as its long pointed head and brightly colored body lie 

 shining on the dealer's table. It is not, however, extensively captured, on account of 

 a senseless prejudice which exists in many parts against the fish, the green hue of the 

 spine being its probable cause. Despite of prejudice, the fish is an excellent one, and 

 when properly dressed is not unlike eel, but is not so rich. 



It is a voracious and bold-biting fish, taking almost any animal substance used as bait, 

 and seizing it so strongly that it hooks itself without any trouble to the angler. To those 

 who fish for their living, and not merely for sport, the Gar-fish behaves ia a very agreeable 

 manner ; for instead of plunging about when it feels the hook, and by its struggles 

 frightening all other fishes away, it gives one strong pull when it finds itself checked, 

 and then resigns the contest, hanging quietly until released by the fishermen. As 



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