Part 10

The same remarks apply to the movements of the extremities of the triton (fig. 45, p. 89) and crocodile, when swimming, and to the feebly developed corresponding members in the lepidosiren, proteus, and axolotl, specimens of all of which are to be seen in the Zoological Society’s Gardens, London. In the latter, natation is effected principally, if not altogether, by the tail and lower half of the body, which is largely developed and flattened laterally for this purpose, as in the fish.

The muscular power exercised by the fishes, the cetaceans, and the seals in swimming, is conserved to a remarkable extent by the momentum which the body rapidly acquires--the velocity attained by the mass diminishing the degree of exertion required in the individual or integral parts. This holds true of all animals, whether they move on the land or on or in the water or air.

The animals which furnish the connecting link between the water and the air are the diving-birds on the one hand, and the flying-fishes on the other,--the former using their wings for flying above and through the water, as occasion demands; the latter sustaining themselves for considerable intervals in the air by means of their enormous pectoral fins.

_Flight under water, etc._--Mr. Macgillivray thus describes a flock of red mergansers which he observed pursuing sand-eels in one of the shallow sandy bays of the Outer Hebrides:--“The birds seemed to move under the water with almost as much velocity as in the air, and often rose to breathe at a distance of 200 yards from the spot at which they had dived.”[55]

[55] History of British Birds, vol. i. p. 48.

In birds which fly indiscriminately above and beneath the water, the wing is provided with stiff feathers, and reduced to a minimum as regards size. In subaqueous flight the wings may act by themselves, as in the guillemots, or in conjunction with the feet, as in the grebes.[56] To convert the wing into a powerful oar for swimming, it is only necessary to extend and flex it in a slightly backward direction, the mere act of extension causing the feathers to roll down, and giving to the back of the wing, which in this case communicates the more effective stroke, the angle or obliquity necessary for sending the animal forward. This angle, I may observe, corresponds with that made by the foot during extension, so that, if the feet and wings are both employed, they act in harmony. If proof were wanting that it is the back or convex surface of the wing which gives the more effective stroke in subaquatic flight, it would be found in the fact that in the penguin and great auk, which are totally incapable of flying out of the water, the wing is actually twisted round in order that the concave surface, which takes a better hold of the water, may be directed backwards (fig. 46).[57] The thick margin of the wing when giving the effective stroke is turned downwards, as happens in the flippers of the sea-bear, walrus, and turtle. This, I need scarcely remark, is precisely the reverse of what occurs in the ordinary wing in aërial flight. In those extraordinary birds (great auk and penguin) the wing is covered with short, bristly-looking feathers, and is a mere rudiment and exceedingly rigid, the movement which wields it emanating, for the most part, from the shoulder, where the articulation partakes of the nature of a universal joint. The wing is beautifully twisted upon itself, and when it is elevated and advanced, it rolls up from the side of the bird at varying degrees of obliquity, till it makes a right angle with the body, when it presents a _narrow_ or _cutting edge_ to the water. The wing when fully extended, as in ordinary flight, makes, on the contrary, an angle of something like 30° with the horizon. When the wing is depressed and carried backwards,[58] the angles which its under surface make with the surface of the water are gradually increased. The wing of the penguin and auk propels both when it is elevated and depressed. It acts very much after the manner of a screw; and this, as I shall endeavour to show, holds true likewise of the wing adapted for aërial flight.

[56] The guillemots in diving do not use their feet; so that they literally fly under the water. Their wings for this purpose are reduced to the smallest possible dimensions consistent with flight. The loons, on the other hand, while they employ their feet, rarely, if ever, use their wings. The subaqueous progression of the grebe resembles that of the frog.--Cuvier’s Animal Kingdom, Lond. 1840, pp. 252, 253.

[57] In the swimming of the crocodile, turtle, triton, and frog, the concave surfaces of the feet of the anterior extremities are likewise turned backwards.

[58] The effective stroke is also delivered during flexion in the shrimp, prawn, and lobster.

_Difference between Subaquatic and Aërial Flight._--The difference between subaquatic flight or diving, and flight proper, may be briefly stated. In aërial flight, the most effective stroke is delivered _downwards_ and _forwards_ by the under, concave, or biting surface of the wing which is turned in this direction; the less effective stroke being delivered in an upward and forward direction by the upper, convex, or non-biting surface of the wing. In subaquatic flight, on the contrary, the most effective stroke is delivered _downwards_ and _backwards_, the least effective one upwards and forwards. In aërial flight the long axis of the body of the bird and the short axis of the wings are inclined slightly upwards, and make a _forward_ angle with the horizon. In subaquatic flight the long axis of the body of the bird, and the short axis of the wings are inclined slightly downwards and make a _backward_ angle with the surface of the water. The wing acts more or less efficiently in every direction, as the tail of the fish does. The difference noted in the direction of the down stroke in flying and diving, is rendered imperative by the fact that a bird which flies in the air is heavier than the medium it navigates, and must be supported by the wings; whereas a bird which flies under the water or dives, is lighter than the water, and must force itself into it to prevent its being buoyed up to the surface. However paradoxical it may seem, _weight_ is necessary to aërial flight, and _levity_ to subaquatic flight. A bird destined to fly above the water is provided with travelling surfaces, so fashioned and so applied (they strike _from above_, _downwards_ and _forwards_), that if it was lighter than the air, they would carry it off into space without the possibility of a return; in other words, the action of the wings would carry the bird obliquely upwards, and render it quite incapable of flying either in a horizontal or downward direction. In the same way, if a bird destined to fly under the water (auk and penguin) was not lighter than the water, such is the configuration and mode of applying its travelling surfaces (they strike _from above_, _downwards_ and _backwards_), they would carry it in the direction of the bottom without any chance of return to the surface. In aërial flight, weight is the power which nature has placed at the disposal of the bird for regulating its altitude and horizontal movements, a cessation of the play of its wings, aided by the inertia of its trunk, enabling the bird to approach the earth. In subaquatic flight, levity is a power furnished for a similar but opposite purpose; this, combined with the partial slowing or stopping of the wings and feet, enabling the diving bird to regain the surface at any moment. Levity and weight are auxiliary forces, but they are necessary forces when the habits of the aërial and aquatic birds and the form and mode of applying their travelling surfaces are taken into account. If the aërial flying bird was lighter than the air, its wings would require _to be twisted round_ to resemble the diving wings of the penguin and auk. If, on the other hand, the diving bird (penguin or auk) was heavier than the water, its wings would require to resemble aërial wings, and they would require to strike in an opposite direction to that in which they strike normally. From this it follows that _weight_ is necessary to the bird (as at present constructed) destined to navigate the air, and _levity_ to that destined to navigate the water. If a bird was made very large and very light, it is obvious that the diving force at its disposal would be inadequate to submerge it. If, again, it was made very small and very heavy, it is equally plain that it could not fly. Nature, however, has struck the just balance; she has made the diving bird, which flies under the water, relatively much heavier than the bird which flies in the air, and has curtailed the travelling surfaces of the former, while she has increased those of the latter. For the same reason, she has furnished the diving bird with a certain degree of buoyancy, and the flying bird with a certain amount of weight--levity tending to bring the one to the surface of the water, weight the other to the surface of the earth, which is the normal position of rest for both. The action of the subaquatic or diving wing of the king penguin is well seen at p. 94, fig. 47.

From what has been stated it will be evident that the wing acts very differently in and out of the water; and this is a point deserving of attention, the more especially as it seems to have hitherto escaped observation. In the water the wing, when most effective, strikes _downwards_ and _backwards_, and acts as an auxiliary of the foot; whereas in the air it strikes _downwards_ and _forwards_. The oblique surfaces, spiral or otherwise, presented by animals to the water and air are therefore made to act in opposite directions, as far as the down strokes are concerned. This is owing to the greater density of the water as compared with the air,--the former supporting or nearly supporting the animal moving upon or in it; the latter permitting the creature to fall through it in a downward direction during the ascent of the wing. To counteract the tendency of the bird in motion to fall downwards and forwards, the down stroke is delivered in this direction; the kite-like action of the wing, and the rapidity with which it is moved causing the mass of the bird to pursue a more or less horizontal course. I offer this explanation of the action of the wing in and out of the water after repeated and careful observation in tame and wild birds, and, as I am aware, in opposition to all previous writers on the subject.

The rudimentary wings or paddles of the penguin (the movements of which I had an opportunity of studying in a tame specimen) are principally employed in swimming and diving. The feet, which are of moderate size and strongly webbed, are occasionally used as auxiliaries. There is this difference between the movements of the wings and feet of this most curious bird, and it is worthy of attention. The wings act together, or synchronously, as in flying birds; the feet, on the other hand, are moved alternately. The wings are wielded with great energy, and, because of their semi-rigid condition, are incapable of expansion. They therefore present their maximum and minimum of surface by a partial rotation or tilting of the pinion, as in the walrus, sea-bear, and turtle. The feet, which are moved with less vigour, are, on the contrary, rotated or tilted to a very slight extent, the increase and diminution of surface being secured by the opening and closing of the membranous expansion or web between the toes. In this latter respect they bear a certain analogy to the feet of the seal, the toes of which, as has been explained, spread out or divaricate during extension, and the reverse. The feet of the penguin entirely differ from those of the seal, in being worked separately, the foot of one side being flexed or drawn towards the body, while its fellow is being extended or pushed away from it. The feet, moreover, describe definite curves in opposite directions, the right foot proceeding from within outwards, and from above downwards during extension, or when it is fully expanded and giving the effective stroke; the left one, which is moving at the same time, proceeding from without inwards and from below upwards during flexion, or when it is folded up, as happens during the back stroke. In the acts of extension and flexion the legs are slightly rotated, and the feet more or less tilted. The same movements are seen in the feet of the swan, and in those of swimming birds generally (fig. 48).

One of the most exquisitely constructed feet for swimming and diving purposes is that of the grebe (fig. 49). This foot consists of three swimming toes, each of which is provided with a membranous expansion, which closes when the foot is being drawn towards the body during the back stroke, and opens out when it is being forced away from the body during the effective stroke.

In swimming birds, each foot describes one side of an ellipse when it is extended and thrust from the body, the other side of the ellipse being described when the foot is flexed and drawn towards the body. The curve described by the right foot when pushed from the body is seen at the arrow _r_ of fig. 50; that formed by the left foot when drawn towards the body, at the arrow _s_ of the same figure. The curves formed by the feet during extension and flexion produce, when united in the act of swimming, waved lines, these constituting a chart for the movements of the extremities of swimming birds.

There is consequently an obvious analogy between the swimming of birds and the walking of man (compare fig. 50, p. 97, with fig. 19, p. 39); between the walking of man and the walking of the quadruped (compare figs. 18 and 19, pp. 37 and 39); between the walking of the quadruped and the swimming of the walrus, sea-bear, and seal; between the swimming of the seal, whale, dugong, manatee, and porpoise, and that of the fish (compare fig. 32, p. 68, with figs. 18 and 19, pp. 37 and 39); and between the swimming of the fish and the flying of the insect, bat, and bird (compare all the foregoing figures with figs. 71, 73, and 81, pp. 144 and 157).

_Flight of the Flying-fish; the kite-like action of the Wings, etc._--Whether the flying-fish uses its greatly expanded pectoral fins as a bird its wings, or only as parachutes, has not, so far as I am aware, been determined by actual observation. Most observers are of opinion that these singular creatures glide up the wind, and do not beat it after the manner of birds; so that their flight (or rather leap) is indicated by the arc of a circle, the sea supplying the chord. I have carefully examined the structure, relations, and action of those fins, and am satisfied in my own mind that they act as true pinions within certain limits, their inadequate dimensions and limited range alone preventing them from sustaining the fish in the air for indefinite periods. When the fins are fully flexed, as happens when the fish is swimming, they are arranged along the sides of the body; but when it takes to the air, they are raised above the body and make a certain angle with it. In being raised they are likewise inclined forwards and outwards, the fins rotating on their long axes until they make an angle of something like 30° with _the horizon_--this being, as nearly as I can determine, the greatest angle made by the wings during the down stroke in the flight of insects and birds.

The pectoral fins, or pseudo-wings of the flying-fish, like all other wings, act after the manner of kites--the angles of inclination which their under surfaces make with the horizon varying according to the degree of extension, the speed acquired, and the pressure to which they are subjected by being carried against the air. When the flying-fish, after a preliminary rush through the water (in which it acquires initial velocity), throws itself into the air, it is supported and carried forwards by the kite-like action of its pinions;--this action being identical with that of the boy’s kite when the boy runs, and by pulling upon the string causes the kite to glide upwards and forwards. In the case of the boy’s kite _a pulling force_ is applied to the kite in front. In the case of the flying-fish (and everything which flies) _a similar force_ is applied to the kites formed by the wings by the weight of the flying mass, which always tends to fall vertically downwards. Weight supplies a motor power in flight similar to that supplied by the leads in a clock. In the case of the boy’s kite, the hand of the operator furnishes the power; in flight, a large proportion of the power is furnished by the weight of the body of the flying creature. It is a matter of indifference how a kite is flown, so long as its under surface is made to impinge upon the air over which it passes.[59] A kite will fly effectually when it is neither acted upon by the hand nor a weight, provided always there is a stiff breeze blowing. In flight one of two things is necessary. Either the under surface of the wings must be carried rapidly against still air, or the air must rush violently against the under surface of the expanded but motionless wings. Either the wings, the body bearing them, or the air, must be in rapid motion; one or other must be active. To this there is no exception. To fly a kite in still air the operator must run. If a breeze is blowing the operator does not require to alter his position, the breeze doing the entire work. It is the same with wings. In still air a bird, or whatever attempts to fly, must flap its wings energetically until it acquires initial velocity, when the flapping may be discontinued; or it must throw itself from a height, in which case the initial velocity is acquired by the weight of the body acting upon the inclined planes formed by the motionless wings. The flapping and gliding action of the wings constitute the difference between ordinary flight and that known as skimming or sailing flight. The flight of the flying-fish is to be regarded rather as an example of the latter than the former, the fish transferring the velocity acquired by the vigorous lashing of its tail in the water to the air,--an arrangement which enables it to dispense in a great measure with the flapping of the wings, which act by a combined parachute and wedge action. In the flying-fish the flying-fin or wing attacks the air _from beneath_, whilst it is being raised above the body. It has no downward stroke, the position and attachments of the fin preventing it from descending beneath the level of the body of the fish. In this respect the flying-fin of the fish differs slightly from the wing of the insect, bat, and bird. The gradual expansion and raising of the fins of the fish, coupled with the fact that the fins never descend below the body, account for the admitted absence of beating, and have no doubt originated the belief that the pectoral fins are merely passive organs. If, however, they do not act as true pinions within the limits prescribed, it is difficult, and indeed impossible, to understand how such small creatures can obtain the momentum necessary to project them a distance of 200 or more yards, and to attain, as they sometimes do, an elevation of twenty or more feet above the water. Mr. Swainson, in crossing the line in 1816, zealously attempted to discover the true action of the fins in question, but the flight of the fish is so rapid that he utterly failed. He gives it as his opinion that flight is performed in two ways,--first by a spring or leap, and second by the spreading of the pectoral fins, which are employed in propelling the fish in a forward direction, either by flapping or by a motion analogous to the skimming of swallows. He records the important fact, that the flying-fish can change its course after leaving the water, which satisfactorily proves that the fins are not simply passive structures. Mr. Lord, of the Royal Artillery,[60] thus writes of those remarkable specimens of the finny tribe:--“There is no sight more charming than the flight of a shoal of flying-fish, as they shoot forth from the dark green wave in a glittering throng, like silver birds in some gay fairy tale, gleaming brightly in the sunshine, and then, with a mere touch on the crest of the heaving billow, again flitting onward reinvigorated and refreshed.”

[59] “On the Various Modes of Flight in relation to Aëronautics.” By the Author.--Proceedings of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, March 1867.

[60] Nature and Art, November 1866, p. 173.