9 o OS BECK'S VOYAGE. 



The 30th of March, 19 34 N. L. 



Besantyes is a word as familiar to our 

 people who go to the Eaft Indies, as it has 

 been ftrange and unknown hitherto to natu : 

 ralifts. A multitude of Befantyes falted by 

 our fhip at this time, with their bow-like, ex- 

 panded fkins ; but fometimes they turned over 

 and dipped their fails into the water. I was 

 not able to get one of thefe little animals, al- 

 though I wifhed it very much. At a great 

 diftance they look like green fifth-bladders, 

 with little fails, from whence they derive their 

 name. 



The flying-fifties (Exoeatus volitans), which 

 generally live about the tropics, and efpecially 

 in the Weftern ocean, now began to appear 

 near the fhip. They have many enemies both 

 in water and air: in the former they are pur; 

 fued by the Scomber Tbymws, or tunny, by 

 the Scomber Pelamis, or bonnct-fifh, and by 

 other fifties ; in the latter, the Phaeton cethe- 

 reus, or tropic-bird, the Pelccamis Pifcator, 

 or booby, and the Pelicanus Jquilus, or man 

 of war, are their enemies. All thefe look 



upon 



