30 To the River Plate and Back 



white plumage of which made them very conspicuous 

 as they pattered to and fro over the waves, or rose and 

 came circling about the ship. In the muddy waters 

 of the Rio de la Plata cormorants were common. 



Shortly after entering the Gulf Stream, and there- 

 after until we reached the Tropic of Capricorn, flying- 

 fishes were exceedingly numerous. They ran in great 

 schools. Standing at the prow it was highly interesting 

 to watch them as they rose from the bow-waves and 

 fled from the advancing ship. Some were less than an 

 inch in length and when on the wing looked like small 

 dragon-flies darting out of the water; others were as 

 large as a mackerel. Occasionally hundreds of them 

 would rise up together and shoot away. Their flight 

 suggested that of a covey of quails. They often flew 

 to a great distance. Now and then I noted individuals 

 which must have flown a hundred yards, and sometimes, 

 I think it is no exaggeration to say, twice that distance. 

 Everything seemed to depend upon the way in which 

 they met the wind on rising from the water. I observed 

 them very carefully to detect whether in their flight 

 they vibrate their fins, but they apparently never did 

 this, except just at the instant when they emerged from 

 the water, when the great pectorals seemed to quiver 

 for an instant as they met the air. It looked as if they 

 were trying to shake off the drops still adhering to them. 

 The tail is used to give direction and to maintain 

 proper poise. A hundred times I noted that, as they flew, 

 they just touched the tops of the waves with their tails, 

 thus keeping themselves pointed at the proper angle 

 to the wind. One fine big fish as he came out of the 

 water rose perpendicularly into the air like a kite against 

 the breeze. It looked for an instant as if the wind, 

 which was very strong, would blow him over backward, 



