25 
gorging themselves on the putrid carrion. -While the moun- 
tain of corruption was thus attacked from above, the underside 
was demolished by shoals of sharks, and other ravenous 
fishes; and their combined efforts never ceased until the 
weight of the skeleton overmatched the buoyancy of the flesh, 
when the mangled remnant sunk to the bottom. 
*'DIhese birds feed occasionally on molluscous animals, 
which was more than once proved, by inspecting their 
stomachs, wherein I invariably found the beaks and eyes of 
a species of Sepia. These eyes are of a very singular struc- 
ture. The crystalline lens, like that of fishes, is of a globular 
form, but separable into two hemispherical portions, and 
consists of thick concentric coats of a cartilaginous texture, 
and beautiful pearly whiteness; the latter the effect, no doubt, 
of maceration in the bird's stomach. 
* From the day we past the 30? degree of latitude, the 
Petrels and Albatrosses disappeared, and we saw few birds of 
any description during the rest of the voyage. The Flying- 
Jish began to appear in latitude 28°, and attended us until 
we arrived in the Ganges. An error with regard to this fish 
has crept into Linneus’ System of Nature. After the specific 
definition of Hxocetus volitans, we meet with the following 
observation: * By means of its long pectoral fins, it is able 
to raise itself out of the water, and suspend itself in the air 
for a short space, till they become dry, which it does for the 
purpose of escaping from the jaws of predatory fish; and in 
its flight it is exposed to the talons of aquatic birds, hovering 
over the waters to catch it.’ 
© « [t is not, I am inclined to believe, by means of its. pec- 
toral fins that the Flying-fish raises itself out of the water, —— 
but by means of its tail, the only propelling fin with which 
it, in common with all other fishes, is furnished. The pectoral 
fins act merely as poises, and during its progress through 
the water, are disposed close along its sides. In its aerial 
flight, they sustain it by their mere expansion, in the same 
manner as we observe many birds, particularly the Albatrosses, 
fly for a length of time without any motion of their wings. 
When the Flying-fish shoots out of the water, it carries both 
