iio Voyage of the Novara. 



men-of-war." They sail along by means of their large air- 

 bags, exposed to the wind, whilst their numerous long, dark- 

 blue tentacles, like fibres or roots, reach deep into the water, 

 extending or contracting in order to secure their food. The 

 fringes of these air-bags are of a violet colour, and resemble, 

 when in sunshine, a splendid flower, floating about the sea 

 in all directions. 



Approaching the zone of the trade-winds, the aspect of the 

 sea is animated by flying-fish. It has been long a matter of 

 doubt whether this fish really moves through the air by flying, 

 or whether, being pursued by enemies, it merely darts from 

 fear out of the water, and sustains itself in the air by means 

 of its long pectoral fins, though the long distances it moves are 

 out of all proportion to its size and probable muscular power. 

 This doubt seems to have originated with those who never 

 have had an opportunity of personally observing flying-fish ; or 

 who have merely seen these creatures in the Mediterranean, 

 where they are so small as to render it rather difiicult to decide 

 in what the movement really consists. 



But in the tropics all doubt vanishes, for the fish here attains 

 a length of from 6 to 8 inches, and its pectoral fins are 

 so much developed that they may perfectly well be used as 

 wings. By closely observing them, it is seen that these fins, or 

 wings, have an oscillating or vibratory motion, like that of the 

 grasshopper, by which they assist the oblique spring from the 

 water, produced by muscular power ; they move at a height of 

 from two to three feet above the surface of the sea, to a distance 



