172 



Marvels of the Universe 



IBy W. B. Robiiuon. 



THE FL'iING GURNARD. 



Except for the 

 ordinary 



extraordinary elongation of tfie 

 ■ed Gurnard. They, like the Flyir 



breast-fin these fishes differ but little from the 



Fishe 



oper, inhabit the warmer seas 



naturalists as to 

 whether the pec- 

 toral fins, or 

 wings (as they 

 may c o n v e n i- 

 ently be called), 

 of these fishes 

 act merely like 

 those of a mono- 

 plane, and serve 

 only to prolong 

 the impetus of 

 the initial leap 

 from the water, 

 or whether they 

 really vibrate hke 

 the wings of a 

 bird and thus im- 

 part a new and independent motion to the fish during its passage through the air. Some years ago 

 the monoplane theory of the flight of flying fishes was almost unanimously accepted by naturalists. 

 But as time went on several independent observers — myself among the number — who had watched 

 the flight of these fishes from the bows of ocean steamers confidently expressed the opinion that 

 there is a distinct vibratory movement of the wings. The death-blow to what may be called the 

 aeroplane theory was, however, given by Col. C. D. Durnford, in two articles published in 1906. 

 It was there pointed out that, as a flying animal, the flying fish is equipped with wings of a fractional 

 sailing power as compared with those of a soaring bird ; and also that if the wings were many times 

 larger, so as to place the fish on an equality in this respect with the bird, it could only sail with 

 the bird's limitations as regards direction of the wind and with the bird's frequent assistance from 

 soaring flight. 



On the other hand, the true explanation appears to be that, in commencing its flight the fish 

 starts with a tail-impelled and wing-assisted jump from the water to a height where the wings can 

 work freely. When this is accomplished, the flight is continued by an intensely rapid and laboured 

 wing-movement, which to most observers appears merely as a blurr. There are, however, short 



periods of slow- 

 ing down, during 

 which the move- 

 ments of the 

 wings become 

 visible ; these 

 " slows " often 

 preceding a 

 special spurt, as 

 when the fish 

 has to top the 

 crest of a wave. 

 Finally, there is 

 either a sudden 

 cessation of wing- 

 movement and a 



[Bj W.:!!. Robinson. 



THE FLYING GURNARD. 



Showing the method of progress under water when the greater part of the now useless 



flat against the side of the fish. 



(in is laid 



