288 ANIMAL MOVEMENT 



makes the following remarks about it (in The Malay Archi- 

 pelago): — "One of the most curious and interesting amphibians 

 which I met with in Borneo was a large tree-frog, which was 

 brought me by one of the Chinese workmen. He assured me 

 that he had seen it come down in a slanting direction from a 

 high tree, as if it flew. On examining it, I found the toes very 

 long and fully webbed to their very extremity. The fore-legs 

 were also bordered by a membrane, and the body was capable 

 of considerable inflation. The back and limbs were of a very 

 deep shining green colour, the under surface and the inner toes 

 yellow, while the webs were black, rayed with yellow. . . As the 

 extremities of the toes have dilated discs for adhesion, showing 

 the creature to be a true tree-fro^, it is difficult to imagine that 

 this immense membrane of the toes can be for the purpose of 

 swimming only, and the account of the Chinaman that it flew 

 down from the tree becomes more credible. This is, I believe, 

 the first instance known of a ' flying frog ', and it is very in- 

 teresting to Darwinians, as showing that the variability of the 

 toes, which have been already modified for purposes of swimming 

 and adhesive climbing, has been taken advantage of to enable 

 an allied species to pass through the air like the flying lizard." 

 Grave doubt has recently been thrown on the Chinaman's state- 

 ment, and for the present the matter must remain undecided. 

 This species also inhabits Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, and 

 an allied form (7?. Reinwardti) is found in Java and Sumatra. 

 Fishes (Pisces) as Parachutists. — In the cases so far 

 described the parachuting organs facilitate descent from a height, 

 but in Flying-Fishes (species of Exoccetus) the object attained is 

 somewhat different. The so-called "wings" are constituted by 

 the enormously enlarged pectoral fins, which, when one of these 

 creatures vigorously projects itself out of the water, act kite- 

 fashion, assisting the body to glide as it were up an inclined 

 plane of air. At the same time the large resisting surface which 

 they present hinders a too rapid return to the water. There is 

 no evidence to show that these fins can be employed as wings, 

 so that it is not a true case of flight. Under favourable circum- 

 stances a considerable speed (over lo miles an hour) is attained, 

 and a distance of some two or three hundred yards traversed; 

 The "flight" is usually longest when directed against the wind. 

 The tail of a Flying-Fish is of unusual form, being unsymmetrical. 



