480 A NATURALIST ON THE " CHALLENGER." 



tails managed to keep themselves above the water in a nearly 

 upright position for a distance of several yards, as they moved 

 swiftly from the danger ; their motion seemed a step towards 

 that of the Flying-fish. 



The large Gar-fish, when startled, move along the surface of 

 the water by a series of rapid bounds for thirty or forty yards at 

 a time with astonishing rapidity, and are often to be seen dash- 

 ing thus along when scared by a boat. I was told that in some 

 of the Pacific Islands they not uncommonly cause the death of 

 natives who, when wading in the water, are liable to have their 

 naked bodies dangerously speared by the long sharp bony snouts 

 of these fish. The fish merely bound blindly away from danger 

 and strike such an obstacle hap-hazard, but their weight must 

 render them very formidable to encounter in this manner. 



The above account of the inhabitants of the Admiralty Islands is 

 mostly reprinted from the "Journal of the Anthropological Institute" 

 for May, 1877, where, in a paper on the " Admiralty Islanders," further 

 details, and an account of the language is given. 



Literature relating to the Admiralty Islands : — " An Account of a 

 Voyage round the World in the years 1766, '67, '68, '69." By Philip 

 Carteret, Esq., Commander of H.M. Sloop "Swallow." Hawksworth's 

 Voyages. London, 1773, Vol. I. 



Labillardiere, " Relation du Voyage a la Recherche de La Perouse. 

 1791." Paris, an. VIII. T. I, p. 255. 



The above translated by John Stockdale. London, 1800, Vol. I. p. 296. 



" Voyage de Dentrecasteaux a la Recherche de La Perouse." Redige 

 par M. de Rossel. T. I, p. 131. 



Extracts from the above are to be found in general works, such as 

 Waitz " Anthropologic," Meinike " Die Inseln des Stillen Ocean," &c. 



" Scenes, Incidents, and Adventures in the Pacific Ocean, during the 

 cruize of the Clipper ' Margaret Oakley ' under Capt. Henry Morrell." 

 T. J. Jacobs. New York, Harper Bros., 1844. 



My attention was called to the above work by my friend Mr. A. W. 

 Franks, F.R.S. The book is rare in England, but there is a copy in the 

 British Museum Library. 



