260 THE HAUNTS OF LIFE 
the beginning of flight, and there is no reason 
why this should be called impossible. It has 
to be remembered, however, that though the 
muscles of the pectoral fins of flying fishes are 
larger in proportion than in related fishes, 
they are not much larger. It follows that 
there cannot be much striking of the air. At 
the most, there is only a beginning of flying. 
Recent studies of flying fishes have shown 
that the “flight” differs greatly according to 
the atmospheric conditions. It is short when 
the air is still; it is long when there is a 
breeze. In fact the “flight” of flying fishes 
sometimes approaches the “‘sailing” of the 
vulture and the albatross. 
(B) Another attempt has been made by 
some tree-toads, which take flying jumps from 
branch to branch. In our common frog there 
is a familiar web on the large hind-feet, which 
is obviously well suited for striking the 
water in swimming. In the flying tree-toad, 
Rhacophorus, there is a web between the 
fingers as well as between the toes, and thus 
the animal has four parachutes. 
(C) There is something fascinating in the 
little Flying Lizard, Draco volans, of the 
Malay States, which has gone far towards 
