164 OBSERVATIONS ON THE FLYING-FISH. 



The principal dimensions of the Coendou are as follows : — 



Length of the body, two feet. 



Length of the head, four inches. 



Length of the tail, fifteen inches. 



Height at the middle of the body, one foot. 

 All the movements of the Coendou are slow, and bespeak 

 circumspection and timidity. It only takes exercise in the 

 evening, or during the night ; and although it is then tolerably 

 active, it has never been seen to make a bound. When it would 

 pass from one place to another, it advances by degrees, fixing 

 each of its feet; and before raising any of them it assures itself of 

 the stable footing of the others ; and its tail, wound round the 

 objects within its reach, is ready to grasp them if the other 

 points of support should fail. This animal can raise itself 

 upon its hind-feet, and in that position carries its food to its 

 mouth with the fore-feet. 



The above account of this singular species is derived chiefly 

 from the Me'moires du Museum, and the splendid work en- 

 titled Histoire des Mammif&res of MM. St. Hilaire and Cu- 

 vier, from which our figure is copied. The original was a female 

 specimen, which was living for some time in the Garden of 

 Plants at Paris. We would suggest to our subscribers who 

 may have friends in Mexico, to direct their attention to this 

 remarkable animal. Its native name, as given by Hernandez, 

 is ' Hoitztlacuatzin/ or the Prickly Opossum. 



OBSERVATIONS ON THE FLYING-FISH. 



"July 6. — The flying-fish today were more numerous and 

 lively. They rose in whole flights to the right and left of the 

 bow, flying off in different directions, as if the vast body of 

 the ship alarmed and disturbed them. Others however, at a 

 greater distance, kept rising and falling without any visible 

 cause, and apparently in the gladness of their hearts, and in 

 order to enjoy the sunshine and the temporary change of ele- 

 ment. Certainly there was no appearance or probability of 

 any larger fish being in pursuit of even one hundredth part 

 of those which we saw, nor were there any birds to endanger 

 their flight ; and those writers who describe the life of these 

 animals as a constant succession of alarms, and rendered 

 miserable by fear, have never, I conceive, seen them in their 

 mirth, or considered those natural feelings of health and hila- 

 rity which seem to lead all creatures to exert, in mere lightness 

 of heart, whatever bodily powers the Creator has given them. 

 It would be just as reasonable to say that a lamb leaps in a 

 meadow for fear of being bitten by serpents, or that a horse 

 gallops round his pasture only because a wolf is at his heels, 



