Donna Sue Kolb, age 9, of Louisville, Ky., for her question:

Are there really flying fish?

Yes, indeed there are flying fish. There are several varieties of the fairylike creatures and all of them live in the sea. There are no fresh water flying fish. As a rule, we find them in warmish waters. A common flying fish off our eastern shores is the sea robin, so named because the pretty little fellow has a reddish brown glow on his chest and fins. The favorite flying fish off our western shores is a handsome fellow wearing tones of silver and peacock blue.

Flying fish take to the air on wide gauzy fins. However, they cannot flap their wings as a bird does. The aerial trip is actually a long graceful glide. It begins under water as the fish gets up speed in a fast swim. He is near the surface where the big waves heave and toss. Chances are, he waits until a wave lifts him high. Then, instead of falling with the wave, he plunges straight through it into the air.

Once in the air, he spreads his gauzy fins. They become the wings which take him gliding through the air. Flying fish usually travel in large numbers. When lots of them skim in and out of the water together they are as beautiful as a ballet. However, the dainty creatures may not be as happy as they seem to be. Very often they take to the air to escape big hungry fish below. And, sad to say, the sea gulls are often waiting for them in the air. The fairy creatures often escape one enemy only to be gobbled up by another.