FLYING FISH. A name given to all those fishes which have the pectoral his so very large that by 111e:111ti 14 them they are sustained in short seeming flights in the air. These fishes be long to two very different families I:x.1(41.641.e and ('ephslsce.nthid:-; hut the naine flying fish is sometimes limited to those of the former family, those of the latter being known as flying gur vards (q.v.). The true lying fish of the genus Exo(setus, in which the pectoral fins are nearly as long as the body, are numerous in specie:, and occur in most ports of the oceanic world. The best known is that of the North Atlantie IP:mew/us rolitans), which occurs abundantly in the open seas, is found on the coast of South Europe, and is not uneonnnon on the Atlantic coast of North America ; it is also found near the Hawaiian Islands. It is (lark brown. with an oblique whitish band from the axil hack to the middle of the fin. ( See Plate of NEEDLE- Visa.) Another common species of the Atlantic is Exo ca•tus foreruns, having about the same range as the above. The great flying tish Californieus), common on the California (-oast, attains a length of IS inches. The other species range from (1 to 12 inches in length. A some what different one is the sharp-nosed flying fish (Podiator «ruins), common on both sides of Central America. All these are good food-fishes, and the favorite food of many predatory fishes, such as bluefish, albacore, porpoises, etc., to escape which their flights are undertaken. Birds often seize them in the air, and they frequently leap on board boats and small ships.
Close observations of their method of flight have been made by .Jordan and his assistants, Gilbert and Evermanm a summary of which is given in Fishes of North America (Washington, 1883), as follows: The flying fishes. live in the
open sea, sw•iinning in large schools. They will 'fly' a distance of from a few rods to more than an eighth of a mile, rarely rising more than three or four feet. Their movements in the water are extremely rapid; the sole source of motive power is the action of the strong tail while in the water. No force is acquired while the fish is in the air. On rising from the water the move ments of the tail are continued until the whole body is out of the water. While the tail is in motion the pectorals scent to be in a state of rapid vibration, lint this is apparent only, due to the resistance of the air to the motions of the animal. While the tail is in the water the ventrals are folded. \\*hen the action of the tail ceases the pectorals and ventrals are spread and hold at rest. They are not used as wings, hut act rather as parachutes to hold the body in the air. When the fish begins to fall the tail touches the water, when its motion again begins, and with it the apparent motion of the pectorals. It is thus enabled to resume its flight. wide') it finishes finally with a splash. While in the air it resembles a large dragon-fly. The motion is very swift, at first in a straight line. but later deflected into a curve. The motion has 710 rela tion to the direction of the wind. When a vessel is through a school of these fishes they spring up before it, moving in all directions, as grasshoppers in a meadow.
For comparative descriptions of the species of flying fishes, consult Jordan and Meek, Proceed ings C nited States National Museum (Washing ton, 1885). A very complete series of the Ameri can forms is in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Philadelphia.