CHAPTER XVII 

 THE FLYING-FISH 



THE subject of this chapter is undoubtedly one of 

 the most interesting in the long list of the 

 great fauna of the sea. It has been the occa- 

 sion for much heated discussion, which seems to be 

 never ending ; so-called authorities never appear able to 

 agree upon the much vexed question of leap or flight. 

 Quite as much nonsense has been talked about the 

 Flying-fish as about the whale, and that also by 

 people whose position in the natural history world 

 imperatively demanded of them accurate information. 

 Moreover, there has been more sympathy wasted upon 

 the Flying-fish than upon any other sea creature. 

 Its hard lot is bewailed because that, fleeing from its 

 many enemies in the sea and soaring into the air, 

 it is there seized by hovering birds, who doubtless 

 regard its habit of flight as one that might most 

 advantageously be followed by all the other small fish 

 in the sea. 



Now in what follows, as in almost all I have already 

 written, I wish it to be clearly understood that only 

 personal observation has been used as a basis for the 

 remarks made, and consequently I am fully prepared 

 for much contradiction. As a sample of the kind of 

 thing all first-hand observers of little-known creatures 

 must expect, I quote an experience of mine six years 

 ago. I had written an article for a popular magazine, 



