THE WINGED FLYING-FISH I •} $ 



t-lon backwards and forwards. These fins are used 

 also to aid the motion of the fish in the water ; and 

 if we are to judge from the great length and surface 

 of the oars, comparatively with the size of the body, 

 the fish should be able to cut their way through the 

 water with great velocity. 



The Flying-fish has numerous enemies in its own 

 element ; the Dorado, Thunny, and many others 

 pursue and devour it. To aid its escape, it is fur- 

 nished with4hese long pectoral fins, by which it is 

 able to raise itself into the air, where it is often 

 seized by the Albatross or Tropic birds. Its flight 

 is short, seldom more than sixty or seventy yards at 

 one stretch ; but, by touching the surface at inter- 

 vals to moisten its fins, it is able to double or treble 

 this distance. The whole flight, however, is of So 

 short a duration that, even in the hottest weather, its 

 fins do not become dry. By touching the water it 

 not only wets its fins, but seems to take fresh force 

 and vigour in another spring into an element, where 

 it is not long able to support its weight by the 

 clumsy motion, of its fins. If the Flying-fishes were 

 solitary animals they would not be worth the pur- 

 suit of some of their larger enemies: they are very 

 seldom seen to rise singly from the water, but they 

 generally appear in large shoals. 



It has been inconsiderately remarked that " all 

 animated nature seems combined against this little 

 fish, which possesses the double powers of swim- 

 ming and flying only to subject it to greater dan- 

 gers. If it escape its enemies of the deep, it is on- 

 ly to be devoured by the sea-fowl, which are waiting 



