The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-05-17


In the sea there are three flyers that
really, from the extent of their flights. de-
serve the name. Those of Orn, readers who
have been at sea. especially in the South,
may have seen the common fiying-fsh,
with its blue-and-silver body and lace
like, sheeny wings. From the crest of
blue wave they dart, singly or in flocils,
tlutter;ng along, rising and falling, turn
ing in curves, and returning to the water
with a splash-perhaps to fall victim
to some watchful bonito (or dolphin
that has been closely following them be-
meath the water. These privateers of
the sea are their greatest enemies, as
they rise in the air rfollowing them under
water, and emerging just in time to
catch the luckless flyers as they descend.
The dolphins will take great leaps of
twenty or thirty feetin following the poor
t1ying-fish, which, Notwithstanding their
long wings and wonderful powers, often
fall victims to their tireless pursuers.
They frequently fly aboard vessels at
night, perhaps attracted by the lights,
or, it may be, caught up by the wind
from the crest of some curling wave,
and carried high in air against the sails.
The gurnard, though it has also long,
wing-like fans, presents otherwise Il total
ly different appearance. Its head is in
closed in a bony armor, from which
project two sharp spines. Some of these
fish are of q rich pink color, while others
are mottled with red, yellow, and blue,
and as they fly along over the water,
and the sunlight falls upon their glitter
ing scales, they seem to glow with 4
golden luster. With such hard heads,
it will not be surprising information
that they are disagreeable fellows to
come in contact with; atleast, so thought
sailor who was standing at dusk upon
the quarterback OF vessel. near one of
the West India islands. Suddenly he
! found himself lying upon his back,
knocked over by a monster gurnard that,
with a score of others, had darted from
the water. this one striking the man fair
ly in the forehead. The gurnar4s are
also chased by dolphins, and they are
frequently seen to rise in schools to es-
cape from the larger fish. while hover
ing above them are watchful gulls and
man-Of-war birds, ready to steal them
from the jaws of their enemies of the sea.
In company with these flyin9-fish may
often be seen curious white bodies, with
! long arms and black eyes. They are
tlying-squids, members of the cuttle- fish
family, and the famous bait of the New
foundland cod-fshermen. On the Banks
they are often seen in vast shoals, and
| during storms tons of them are thrown
| upon the shore. When darting from
wave to wave, they resemble silvery ar
rows, often rising and boarding ships
in their headlong flight. So valuable
are they for bait, that four or five hun
dred vessels at st, Pierre are engaged in
catching them by means of jiggers.
Many of the squid family leave the
water when pursued. Even the largest
of them, often forty OF fifty feet long,
have been seen to rise ten or fifteen feet
in this air, and sail away as if propelled
by some mysterious force, their hideous
arms dripping and glistening. They are
certainly the largest and strangest Of
the flyers without wings.-Frona c. F.
Holders .'Flyimg Without Wings" IN,
st. Nicholas.