44 i 



THE COMMON FLYING-FISH. 



combined against this little fish, which possesses the double powers of 

 swimming and flying, only to subject it to greater dangers. If it 

 escape its enemies of the deep, this is only that it may be devoured 

 by the sea fowl, which are waiting its appearance in the air." Ita 

 destiny, however, is not peculiarly severe : we should consider that, 

 as a fish, it often escapes the attack of birds; and, in its winged 

 character, the individuals frequently throw themselves out of the 

 power of fishes. 



The eyes of these fish are so prominent, as to admit of their seeing 

 danger from whatever quarter it maj come ; but, on emergency, they 



BIRDS ATTACKING FLYING FISH. 



are able, in addition, to push them somewhat beyond the sockets, so 

 a.3 considerably to enlarge their usual sphere of vision. 



They are frequently either unable to direct their flight out of a 

 straight line, or else they become exhausted on a sudden: for some- 

 times whole shoals of them fall on board the ships that navigate the 

 seas of warm climates. 



In the water, they have somewhat the manner of the Swallow in 

 the air, except that they always swim in straight lines ; and the black 

 ness of their backs, the whiteness of their bellies, and their forked 

 and expanded tails, give them much the same appearance as that of 

 these birds. 





