384 Scietitijic Intelligence — Zoology. 



which, when the tree is covered with blossoms, is so strong as to be 

 almost overpowering. The tree which bears this finest of all fruits 

 is from fifteen to twenty feet high. It has a broad flat top, and is 

 of a pale green colour. — (Travels in Peru, hy J. J. Von Tschudi, 

 p. 185.) 



21. Effects of Datura sanguinea, R. Pav. — To this plant the natives 

 give the names Huacacachu^ Verba de Huaca, or Bobachevo ; and 

 they prepare from its fruit a very powerful narcotic drink, called tonga. 

 The Indians believe that by drinking the tonga they are brought into 

 communication with the spirits of their forefathers. I once had an 

 opportunity of observing an Indian under the influence of this drink. 

 Shortly after having swallowed the beverage he fell into a heavy 

 stupor : he sat with his eyes vacantly fixed on the ground, his mouth 

 convulsively closed, and his nostrils dilated. In the course of about 

 a quarter of an hour his eyes began to roll, foam issued from his 

 half-opened lips, and his whole body was agitated by frightful con- 

 vulsions. These violent symptoms having subsided, a profund sleep 

 of several hours succeeded. In the evening I again saw this Indian. 

 He was relating to a circle of attentive listeners the particulars of 

 his vision, during which he alleged he had held communication with 

 the spirits of his forefathers. He appeared very weak and ex- 

 hausted. 



In former times the Indian sorcerers, when they pretended to 

 transport themselves into the presence of their deities, drank the 

 juice of the thorn-apple, in order to work themselves into a state of 

 ecgtasy. Though the establishment of Christianity has weaned the 

 Indians from their idolatry, yet it has not banished their old super- 

 stitions. They still believe that they can hold communication with 

 the spirits of their ancestors, and that they can obtain from them a 

 clue to the treasures concealed in the huacas, or graves ; hence the 

 Indian name of the thorn-apple — Huacacachu, or grave-plant. 

 {^Travels in Peru, by Dr J. J. Von Tschudi, p. 269.) 



ZOOLOGY. 



22. On the Flight of the Flying Fish. — In those latitudes, it was 

 also curious to watch the flight of the flying-fishes (Exocetus volitans), 

 whole shoals of which rose quite close to the ship ; and I have per- 

 fectly satisfied myself, not only on this occasion, but during the 

 several times I have crossed the ocean, that they make use of their 

 pectoral fins as wings, during the time they remain above water. 

 This fact I was particularly desirous to ascertain, as Cuvier, and all 

 other authors I have consulted on the subject, except Humboldt, deny 

 that this is the case.* The distance to which they fly is sometimes 



* The following is the statement of Baron Cuvier : — " Leur vol n'est jamais 

 bienlong ; s'elevant pour fuir les poissons voraces, ils retombent bient6t, parce 

 que leurs ailes ne leur servent que de parachutes." — Le Eigne Animal, tome ii., 

 p. 287, Edit. 1829. 



