OCCASIONAL NOTES. 147 
happened to be in the way they came on board. I repeatedly saw them 
bend their bodies till the lower lobes of their caudal fins touched the water, 
by which means they were enabled to renew their course through the air, and 
to change its direction. They did not rise so much, nor go so far in the air 
at a stretch, in calm weather as they did-in rough. Although I often 
noticed a quivering motion of the pectoral fins, I did not observe any 
regular flapping strokes in the air, such as a bat or bird gives with 
its wings. A shoal of Flying-fish rising from the sea always reminded me 
of a flock of Sandpipers or small Plovers, their white bellies flashing in the 
sunshine, and it is difficult for a casual observer to realise that these fishes 
are not really flying. If, however, they are carefully watched, it will soon 
be apparent that the long pectoral fins act merely as a parachute or kite 
does. It is not often that one is close enough to see the fish when actually 
leaving the water, but my impression is that the initial impetus is given by 
the action of the caudal fin and the hinder portion of the body.—W. 8. M. 
D'Ursan (Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter). 
Tue Fryrnc-rish.—It is remarkable that there should still be any 
doubt as to the facts in connection with the flight of the Flying-fish. Dr. 
Giinther (‘Study of Fishes,’ p. 622), summarising the observation of 
Mobius, says that “they frequently overtop each wave, being carried over it 
by the pressure of the disturbed air” (in the open sea!). Again, Flying- 
fishes “ never” fall on board vessels “during a calm or from the lee side.” 
At night, “when they are unable to see, they frequently fly against 
the weather-board, when they are caught by the current of air and carried 
upwards to a height of twenty feet above the surface of the water.” Surely 
the fish going at the rate of at least ten miles an hour would, on striking the 
« weather-board,” be dashed, bruised and helpless, back into the water 
instead of coming over the side fresh and vigorous, flapping about on the 
deck. Except when “ by astroke of its tail” it turns towards the right or 
left, Mobius concludes that “ any deflection from a straight course is due to 
external circumstances, and not to voluntary action on the part of the fish.” 
I have watched Flying-fish repeatedly, and have invariably seen them fly, or 
rather glide, over the surface of the sea, and from one to two feet above it, 
rising gently to the swell when there was no wind, and occasionally turning 
to the right or left without touching the water. 1 do not say that when 
there is a breeze the tail of the fish may not touch it, but I think that, 
with the foam and spray of the broken water, it would be very difficult to 
be sure of it, and, moreover, if the tail was used the motion would be 
a jerking one. Mr. Wallace speaks of their “ rising and falling in the 
most graceful manner,” which, although he is referring to another species, 
applies also to the North Atlantic form (Hxocatus evolans). Mr. Bennett 
(‘ Gatherings,’ &e., p. 14), says that they “ spring from the sea to a great 
