Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-04
VERY ACTIVE FISH.
A Species That Can Fly and Another
That Can Climb Trees.
HOW THEY GET THEIR OXYGEN.
Salmon Often Leap Fifteen Feet in Air
in Going Up Stream.
STORY OF THE STAR OF BETHLEH
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArcH.1

WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.I
If a sportsman on the seashore, watch
for flock of ducks, should, instead, s.
denly see "fock" of fish hving past hi
through the air, he would probably dro.
his gun and rub his eyes, with thoughts o
nightmare, unless he was a remarkably
well-seasoned old sport. And. again, if he
should be cunning in the woods, and sud-
denly come upon fish in the act of climb
ing tree-well, at the very least be would
mentally promise to sign the temperanee
pledge.
No sportsman would see these two amaz-
ing sights in the same neighborhood; but
both the flying and the climbing fish are
we'll known TO naturalists. And there is no
freak of nature in these peculiar fishes. All
vertebrate animals, from man to the fish,
have four limbs, though sometimes certain
OF the limbs are only rudimentary. In birds
the wings are the equivalents of the arms in
man, and in fishes the fins answer for both
arms and legs. In the case OF the flying
fish the forward fins are wonderfully en-
larged and very strong. Like the feather.
less bat it can work these fin wings effect
lively enough to rise from the water and fly
several hundred yards.
CAUGHT BY THE BIRDS.
Flying fishes are abundant in the warmer
parts of the Atlantic Ocean, and In the
Mediterranean Sea, and they are also found
In various other bodies OF salt water. They
travel in shoals, and it is not an uncommon
sight for mariners 10 see hundred or more
of them simultaneously leave the water,
dart away 200 or 300 yards, return to the
water for moment, and then fly away
again. Sometimes these queer flyers become
the victims OF hsh-eating Sea birds, while
on these flights. and they often fall help
lessly on the decks of ships, being unable 10
rise except from their native element.
But the climbing fish, asa natural
astonishing of all the fnny tribe.
There is only one kind, so far as our
present knowledge goes that can actually
climb trees, although there are several
varieties with sufficient power of land loco
motion to leave dried up pond or lake and
travel considerable distances in search of
water. The tree-climber is a species of our
familiar perch, and so far as we know it
exists only In certain parts of the East
Indies. There seems to be no reasonable
doubt that this fish really has the agility of
a country boy in chestnut time, for repu-
table travellers have seen the finny creature
omical structure proves its capability for
such abnormal adventure. The climbing
fish performs its strange feat in this way: It
has peculiar gill covers by which it can
cling to the bark of tree, and then it is
equipped with queer rear fin, with which
it can push its body upward.
LEAPING FROM THE WATER.
In the matter of agility, however, there
are fishes in our own markets that have,
we'll earned regulations. The shad and the
salmon can perform acrobatic feats the pride
of the circus never dreamed Of Salmon,
for instance, leave the sea and 90 up the
rivers when the spawning season approaches.
In making these journeys they often Jump
upward at dams and cascades to a height Of
II and Is feet, and thus continue their
course toward the headwaters.
An evidence of feminine superiority.
which might be utilized by female suf-
fragists, is found in these migratious of the
salmon. They form two long lines in as
cending rivers. with the largest female Of
the group in the lead, the other females fol-
lowing next and the males meekly bringing
up the rear.
But how can lungless fish live long
enough out of water to play either duck or
squirrel? Here is the explanation: Fish
cannot live without air. There is enough
air in the water for fish life, and they inhale
it with the water, the gill system providing
for the outflow OF the water taken in with
the air. This is true of fishes that inhabit
the deepest waters. There is some air at the
very bottom of the deep sea. When a fish
is taken out Of water it doesn't die for want
of its native element: it dies for want of air.
This is because the fringes Of the gills,
which are Kept apart by water, become dry
when the animal is in the dry air, and, thus
adhering, respiration is prevented.
THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
In the gospel according to st. Matthew,
we are told that the birth of Jesus at Beth.
lehem was herslded by the appearance of a
strange star In the sky. This mysterious
stellar appearance has been q fruitful SUBJ
ject OF discussion between the faithful be-
levers in the Scriptures on one hand, and
the material believers in astronomical facts
on the other hand.
Astronomers are forced to admit, how
ever. that strange stars have appeared in
the heavens, and then disappear again as
mysteriously as they came. One of the most
remarkable of them was first noticed about
800 wears ago. 1t is in the constellation
Cetus, and it appears at intervals OF little
less than a year. When at its greatest
brightness it resembles star of the second
magnitude. 1t thus continues about two
weeks, then lis brllllancy gradually de-
creases for about three months, when it be-
comes entirely invisible. Perhaps the most
wonderful OF all the strange stars of which
we have accurate knowledge was that of
1872. 1t suddenly appeared as the bright
est star in the armament, outshining
even Jupiter and Venus, and for o time
was visible at midday. This amazing VISIT
ant remained II months. Its color was suc-
cessively white, yellow, red and white
again, and its position in the heavens was
unchanged during the time it remained
visible, The whole subject of these stellar
peeuliarities may be summed up by saying
that in the present stage of astronomical
knowledge We know nothing positively about
the matter; and so far as concerns the narra-
tive about the Star of Bethlehem the adj
vaneed Schemer of our day has not success
Iuliy impugned the record in the second
chapter OF the gospel according to St. Mat
thew. j. H. WEBB.
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