CORRESPONDENCE 



Editor of the American Naturalist: 



The Flying Fish problem, discussed by Lieut. Col. C. D. Durnford 

 in the American Naturalist for February (page (15), seems to be now 

 reduced to a (juestion of keenness of eyesight . I )o the wings or pectoral 

 fins of this fish in flight move so swiftly that the motion cannot be seen ? 



The initial start of the fish ,.n Icavin.^i- 1 h(> water is^clearly due to 



initial leap from the water, or wlieii hy skimniiiig along the surface 

 the tail touches the water, the n iiio-s arc seen to be in Vi\])n\ vibration. 

 When the tail frr.' fn.n, ilu- \NatiM-. ilir u in-^ niv outspread fan- 

 fashion and seem 1.. 1... lu-M finnh aiMlni n.M uiihuut Mbration, to be 

 folded when the (i-.h drop^ into the water. It lake-< Mroiig muscles 

 to hold the wings taut; we may admit that tlie fish has these; it would 

 take stronger muscles to cause the fish to move through the flapping 

 of the wings. 



The problem is this: Does the fish fla)^ its fins? In the view of 

 Col. Durnford it does. In liis \\v\\ ilic vibrations are so rapid that 

 to most observers they cannot v\rr\)\ at \ \\r bciiiiiniiig or end 



of the flight, when the tail is in \ hr water. 



In the view of others, tiie wiiios ar.' not flai.jHMl al all. When the 



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