FLYING-FISH ON FRESCOES AND INLAYS
129
in the decorative direction than the painter of the fresco. The spots,
especially, in the margin of the wings, can hardly have been suggested
Fig. 83. Flying-fish in Hands of Fisher Lad (Naples).
by the small and very faint spots on the wings of the original, just
visible in Fig. 83. Even the little blue spots
scattered over the wings of the other Medi-
terranean species, Exocodus Rondelettii, can-
not account for these. It seems probable
that, as in the case of flowering plants like
those on the walls of the ' House of Frescoes',
we have here another instance of the eclecti-
cism of Minoan Artists who, according to their
lights, improved on Nature and produced
hybrid forms to suit their own taste. It cer-
tainly looks as if in this case the spotted
margin of the wings had been suggested by
those of a species of Gurnard—a fish with wing-like fins rivalling those of
flying-fish.
III. K
F'ig. 84. Flying-fish on Amygda-
loid Bead, Klitara.
129
in the decorative direction than the painter of the fresco. The spots,
especially, in the margin of the wings, can hardly have been suggested
Fig. 83. Flying-fish in Hands of Fisher Lad (Naples).
by the small and very faint spots on the wings of the original, just
visible in Fig. 83. Even the little blue spots
scattered over the wings of the other Medi-
terranean species, Exocodus Rondelettii, can-
not account for these. It seems probable
that, as in the case of flowering plants like
those on the walls of the ' House of Frescoes',
we have here another instance of the eclecti-
cism of Minoan Artists who, according to their
lights, improved on Nature and produced
hybrid forms to suit their own taste. It cer-
tainly looks as if in this case the spotted
margin of the wings had been suggested by
those of a species of Gurnard—a fish with wing-like fins rivalling those of
flying-fish.
III. K
F'ig. 84. Flying-fish on Amygda-
loid Bead, Klitara.