186 Scientific Intelligence — Miscellaneous. 



turbed by the ship ; a distinct species, differing from both the former 

 in many points. This species is much smaller ; the pectorals are so 

 delicately transparent as to be almost invisible ; the upper parts are 

 of a fine deep blue ; their flight is swifter, more hurried, and continued 

 for a shorter distance ; they often merely shoot along at the sur- 

 face, just cutting the water, and sometimes emerge for five or six 

 feet only. The former appears more tapered at the extremities than 

 that of the species hitherto common. 



Nov, 29th. — I noticed a Flying-fish curve its course so as to de- 

 scribe more than half a circle. 



Nov. SOth. — Before breakfast the motion of the ship disturbed 

 multitudes of Flying-fishes of the blue-backed species, which flew in 

 shoals every moment from each side of the bows. Many Bonitos 

 pursuing them were likewise leaping from the surface ; at length a 

 seaman from the martingale struck one of the latter with the grains 

 and secured it. It was a beautiful fish, remarkably plump and hard ; 

 the rainbow hues of the skin were most rich and lustrous, the pink 

 predominating. Several black stripes running along each side marked 

 it as the Thynnus 'pelanys of Cuv. and Val. We ate it for dinner, 

 and found the flesh pleasant, but rather dry. In its stomach were 

 six of the Blue-backed Flying- fishes partly digested. Some large 

 oceanic birds were likewise pursuing the little aeronauts, swooping 

 down amidst the flitting shoals. As far as I remember, this is the 

 only occasion in which the pursuit of the Exocoetus, by either winged 

 or finned enemies, has ever occurred to my observation ; I incline to 

 think that it is much oftener described than seen. 



Here end my notes of the Flying-fish ; except that long afterwards 

 I saw two or three of the blue-backed species skimming the surface of 

 Bluefield's Bay. Besides the fact, which these notes appear to me to 

 prove, that the Exocoeti have the power of increasing, directing, and 

 terminating their progress while in the air, by the action of their 

 pectorals — a true flight, those connected with the geographical dis- 

 tribution of the species are worthy of notice. The common Atlantic 

 species, which I take to be volitans.^ suddenly appeared in consider- 

 able numbers in long. 41°, or just midway between Africa and the 

 West Indies. They continued to be abundant until within a day's 

 sail of Antigua, where they were replaced by the little blue-backs, 

 and were seen no more. This beautiful little species suddenly be- 

 came quite as abundant as the former had been, and so continued 

 until we neared Hayti. The great Black-winged kind appeared three 

 days to windward of Antigua, and continued to appear conjunctly with 

 the Blue-back, but rarely more than two or three in a day. The 

 last was seen near the west end of Hayti. — A Naturalist's Sojourn 

 in Jamaica, By P. H. Gosse, p. 9. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



9. MonticellVs Collection of Minerals at Naples for sale. — This 



