THE FLYING FISH. 



297 



we have birds which swim, these are fishes which fly. A 

 great deal more has been said and written on this interest- 



ing subject than it would be necessary to repeat, but for the 

 purpose of rectifying error ; and having had numerous 

 opportunities of witnessing these fishes in their native 

 seas, what we shall now state will be the result of per- 

 sonal observation. It has been said, indeed, that the 

 name of flying fish, given to this group, is an error, be- 

 cause they only leap into the air, where they have not 

 the power of sustaining themselves at will; but this is a 

 mere quibble. An animal which can make its way in 

 the air, in the general acceptation of the word, certainly 

 flies, although that flight is not sustained by the motion 

 of the members, and ceases when there is no longer 

 power for continuing the exertion. The idea that this 

 power ceases when the membrane which connects the 

 pectoral rays is dry, is very possible, but we do not 

 think it can be determined as a fact. Thirty seconds is 

 the longest time absolutely mentioned for these fishes to 

 be out of the water* ; and although we never precisely 

 ascertained this, we do not think that the time is under- 

 stated. Now, as the atmosphere under the equinoctial 

 line, where these fishes most abound, is almost always 

 excessively damp and moist, it is highly improbable that 

 the membrane of their fins would dry so very rapidly 

 as in half *a minute after they have been saturated, as it 

 were, with sea water, immediately on the rising of the 

 fish. . It is said, also, that the fins are merely used a 



* Bennett's Wanderings, vol. ii. p. SO. 



