THE FLIGHT OF FLYING FISH. 147 



entire flight, the whole flight being performed very much like 

 that of the Starling as far as the wings are concerned. 



Since making the foregoing observations in the Arabian Sea 

 I have had numerous opportunities of watching Flying Fish in 

 various parts of the world, and all my observations confirm my 

 first impressions. 



As to the length of the flight, the following from my personal 

 observations noted on the spot may be taken as not excessive. 

 The longest flight of which I have a record is from Sunda 

 Straits, where the fish run large, it was "quite three hundred 

 yards, often with several dips of the tail, and changes of direction." 

 I have notes from Perim to Pulo Wey of flights of two hundred 

 yards. In the Mediterranean, along the Algerian coast, where 

 the fish run small, one hundred and fifty yards is a long flight. 

 In the Adriatic, where I have seen them as far north as Poma 

 Island, one hundred yards is a long flight. In the Atlantic, south 

 of the Newfoundland Banks, two hundred yards is not an uncom- 

 mon flight. I think the length of the flight is alone sufficient to 

 refute the possibility of its consummation without the initial 

 velocity being renewed. One theory is that they keep up the 

 flight by going against the wind, soaring like sea-birds ; but, as 

 a fact, the fish will start off in all directions from the bows of a 

 vessel, or when chased out of the water by enemies— as often in 

 a calm as in rough weather, against, across, or before the wind, 

 and, as I have mentioned above, will often change the direction 

 of their flight, which is done by touching the water with the 

 lower tip of the vibrating tail. I once spent the greater part of 

 a distinctly warm afternoon, in a dead calm in the Gulf of Aden, 

 watching schools of the Sailors' Dolphins (Coryphmia) bounding 

 out of the water, chasing the Flying Fish as greyhounds course 

 hares ; and, to complete the similarity, the Flying Fish would 

 dodge in the manner described — by touching the surface with the 

 tail — often almost at a right angle, thus letting the pursuing 

 enemy shoot past. Now, imagine what impetus would be necessary 

 to start the heavy body of a fish on a flight of two hundred yards 

 to be maintained by soaring alone, in any direction to the wind, 

 or in a dead calm, the direction changing two or three times, 

 and often following the undulating surface of the waves ! By the 

 way, it is always in a dead calm when the longest flights occur. 



