4 ANIMALS OF NO IMPORTANCE* 



considerable distances. As often as not the porpoises 

 precede the ship, hence their object in accompanying it 

 cannot be to catch stray particles of food. There appears, 

 indeed, to be but one explanation of the pheno- 

 menon the inquisitiveness of the porpoise. Curios- 

 ity is a common trait in animals. Take, for example, 

 the oft-quoted cases of dogs and monkeys. There 

 is but little doubt that the porpoise is naturally curi- 

 ous. A "school" sees a new and strange sight in the 

 shape of a ship and turns aside to behold the wonder. No 

 observer can fail to be impressed by the graceful movement 

 of the porpoise and also by the great speed at which he 

 travels**chrough the water. For hours a porpoise will keep 

 pace with a steamer, crossing and re-crossing her bows 

 with the greatest impunity. Sometimes a school of por- 

 poises advances in Indian file. In such a case, seen from a 

 distance, they look like an enormous sea-serpent ; each 

 revolving porpoise appearing like a coil of the serpent's 

 body. This is possibly the origin of the sea-serpent myth. 



Flying-fish are very common objects in the Red Sea and 

 Indian Ocean, constantly jumping out of water when 

 disturbed by the approach of the ship. These creatures 

 have greatly enlarged wing-like pectoral fins. The tail 

 is also of considerable magnitude. Fins and tail are the 

 organs which assist these animals in their flight. A flying- 

 fish jumps out of the water to a height of usually from two 

 to three feet, and describes a parabolic curve until it 

 touches the water, when it flaps its fins vigorously and 

 again rises and performs a similar, but generally shorter 

 curve. This process may be repeated several times before 

 the fish finally disappears in the water. There is a 

 considerable controversy raging on the question of the use 

 of the fins to this fish in its flight. Some authorities 

 declare that the fins act merely as a kind of parachute, en- 

 abling the creature to prolong its jump into the air. 

 Others, however, assert that the animal flaps its fins while in 

 the air, thus using them as a bird does its wings. 



