Flying fish near a ship in stormy waters, coloured 17th century artwork. Flying fish use their front (pectoral) fins as wings, escaping from predators by leaping out of the water and gliding through the air. This is an engraving from a book by the Dutch writer and explorer Johan Nieuhof (1618-1672). The book was titled An embassy from the East-India Company of the United Provinces to the Grand Tartar Cham, Emperor of China, and told of Nieuhof's travels to India and China. This artwork is from the English translation, published in 1669.