316 THE OCEAN. 



of the Mackerel family. They are of considerable 

 size, but the Albacore (Scober Germo) is the larger, 

 sometimes being found six feet in length. Like its 

 relative, our own Mackerel, it is a fish of much 

 elegance, and its colours are beautiful. The back 

 is bright azure, with a golden tint; the belly and 

 sides silvery, with rainbow reflections, like mother- 

 of-pearl, and the same notched fins near the tail 

 are bright yellow. In slight winds, when the mo- 

 tion of a ship is slow, these fishes are usually to 

 be seen around her; if she be becalmed, and con- 

 sequently motionless, they remain at some little 

 distance, when the most tempting bait is ineffec- 

 tual; but if she be sailing rapidly before a brisk 

 breeze, they pertinaciously keep her company, keep- 

 ing close alongside, and seizing the hook with avi- 

 dity. The Albacore, as already hinted, is one of 

 the hunters of the little Flying-fish. It is said to 

 be highly interesting to watch one of these fishes 

 keenly engaged in pursuit of its volatile prey : to 

 mark the precision with which it keeps exactly be- 

 neath during the aerial leaps of the victim, keeping 

 it steadily in sight, prepared to snap it up, on the 

 instant of its submersion. The Flying-fish, how- 

 ever, by its exceeding agility, darting again into 

 the air in a moment, sometimes contrives to escape 

 the fearful jaws of its adversary. 



The Albacore, in its tarn, has occasion to exer- 

 cise cunning and contrivance, to evade the attacks 

 of a still mightier foe. Mr. F. D. Bennett mentions 

 that, on one occasion, " The Albacore around the 

 ship afforded us an extraordinary spectacle ; they 



