FLYING FISH. 4-55 



which caused me to suppose it might be the E. cvolaus, of 

 which I possess a specimen twenty and a half inches long. 

 There can be little doubt that this fish had been chased out 

 of its usual haunt by some one of those voracious inhabitants 

 of the deep by which they are continually persecuted. 



In illustration of its habits, Pennant states that the Flying 

 Fish " in its own element is perpetually harassed by the 

 Dorados, and other fishes of prey. If it endeavours to avoid 

 them by having recourse to the air, it either meets its fate 

 from the gulls or the albatross, or is forced down again into 

 the mouth of the inhabitants of the water, who below keep 

 pace with its aerial excursion. Neither is it tmfrequent that 

 whole shoals of them fall on board of those ships that navi- 

 gate the seas of warm climates. 



The most recent observations on the habits and powers 

 of the Flying Fish are those by Mr. George Bennett, the 

 author of Wanderings in New South Wales, and other 

 countries, who appears to have devoted particular attention 

 to the subject. " I have never," observes this gentleman, 

 4< been able to see any percussion of the pectoral fins during 

 flight ; and the greatest length of time that I have seen these 

 volatile fish on the Jin has been thirty seconds by the watch, 

 and their longest flight mentioned by Captain Hall has been 

 two hundred yards, but he thinks that subsequent observa- 

 tion has extended the space. The most usual height of 

 flight, as seen above the surface of the water, is from two 

 to three feet ; but I have known them come on board at a 

 height of fourteen feet and upwards ; and they have been 

 well ascertained to come into the channels of a line-of-battle 

 ship, which is considered as high as twenty feet and up- 

 wards." 



" But it must not be supposed they have the power of 

 elevating themselves in the air, after having left their native 

 element ; for, on watching them, I have often seen them fall 



