( 164 ) 



On the Spontanemis Combustion of the Human Body. 



On the 12th May 1828, M. Julia Fontenelle read, in the 

 academy of sciences at Paris, a memoir entitled, Recherches 

 Chimiqties et Medicales sur les Combustions Humaines Spon- 

 tanees. 



The observations which form the subject of this memoir are 

 highly deserving of attention. In fact, besides the interest 



extract from the letter : *' Governor Hommell • gives the following account 

 of the jaculator or shooting-fish, a name alluding to its nature. It frequents 

 the shores and sides of the sea and rivers in search of food. When it spies a 

 fly silting on the plants that grow in shallow water, it swims on to the dis- 

 tance of four, five, or six feet, and then, with a surprising dexterity, it ejects 

 out of its tubular mouth a single drop of water, which never fails striking^the 

 fly into the sea, where it soon becomes its prey. 



" The relation of this uncommon action of this cunning fish raised the gover- 

 nor's curiosity; though it came well attested, yet he was determined, if possi- 

 ble, to be convinced of the truth, by ocular demonstration. 



" For that purpose, he ordered a large wide tun to be fiUed with sea-water ; 

 then had some of these fish caught, and put into it, which was changed every 

 other day. In a while they seemed reconciled to their confinement ; then he 

 determined to try the experiment. 



" A slender stick, with a fly pinned on at its end, was placed in such a direc- 

 tion, on the side of the vessel, as the fish should strike it. 



" It was with inexpressible delight that he daily saw these fish exercising 

 their skill in shooting at the fly with an amazing velocity, and never missed 

 the mark." 



Then follows Linnajus's description, taken from his work of the Museum 

 of the King of Sweden, printed in 1754, where it bears the name of ChoBtodmi 

 rostratum. 



In vol. Ivi. p. 186, there is a farther account of the habits of this fish, in a 

 letter from Mr Hommel : " When the jaculator fish," he says, " intends to 

 catch a fly, or any other insect, which is seen at a distance, it approaches very 

 slowly and cautiously, and comes, as much as possible, perpendicularly under 

 th8 object : then, the body being put in an oblique position, and the mouth 

 and eyes being near the surface of the water, the jaculator stays a moment 

 quite immoveable, having its eyes directly fixed on the insect, and then 

 begins to shoot, without ever shewing its mouth above the surface of the 

 water, out of which the single drop, shot at the object, seems to rise. No 

 more than two different species of this fish are found here." The first is that 

 already mentioned, as described by Linnaeus under the name Chaetodon ros- 

 tratum, and to which all the above refers. The other is described by Dr 

 Pallas, under the name oi Scicena jactdatrvv, p. 187 of the same volume. Both 

 species are figured — Editor. 



» Mr Hommel, Governor of the Hospital at Batavia. 



