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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0296.PDF
Lajgjji MARCH 15, 1913. FLYING FISH EXAMPLES OF OK the many forms of flight that demonstrated by the flying fish is by no means the least interesting, nor is the study of the quaint creatures belonging to this category to be despised by those interested in aviation. It is a fish that has developed its fins into aeroplanes, with which it can accom plish (by jumping out of the water) extended glides, and even prolong these glides to Two other species of flying fish, forming a part of the collection at the British (Natural History) Museum. The side view represents a fine specimen (13.' ins. long) of an Exocoetus Cahiensis, found in the Atlantic Ocean, while beneath Is an excellent view from the front showing an Exocoetus Spllapterus (from the Indian Ocean) with * wings"—10$ Ins. from tip to tip— outstretched. NATURE'S GLIDERS. a certain extent by flapping. But the flying fish is not really a flyer, in the sense in which the bird or the bat are flyers, for he cannot keep himself in the air for more than a limited period of time. Expert flying fish, by adding the impetus obtainable from flapping, in addition to the impetus obtained from their original jump, can cover distances of about 100 yards, but seldom travel even so far as that without returning to the water, ready to make another leap. The three species which we illustrate —thanks largely to the very great courtesy of Dr. Ride- wood, who gave us every facility for taking our photo graphs at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington — are the Exocoetus Lineatus, cap tured off St. Vincent, in the Cape Verd Islands (two views, one from beneath, one from above); the Exocoelus Cahiensis, found in the Atlantic Ocean ; and the Exocoetus Spilapterus, found in the Indian Ocean. An interesting feature is that in addition to the two large aeroplanes or wings in front, which are designed evidently to carry the bulk of the weight (but which are too forward to give an effective balance), smaller aeroplanes towards the tail are added. They are how ever, much shorter and smaller in size, and the arrange ment of the whole suggests that the weight of the fish is hardly properly distributed between the aeroplanes. This Views—showing the upper part diagonally and the underside squarely—of a flying fish (Exocoetus Lineatus) found off St. Vincent, Cape Verd Islands. Our photographs—taken at the "Natural History Museum, South Kensington, with the kind assistance of Dr. Ridewood—clearly show the two sets of ** wings," or aeroplanes, that enable this curious type of fish to "glide" a considerable distance above the surface of the water. This fish is 19 ins. long, and measures 21J ins. from tip to tip of the " wings." 302
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