THE DOLPHIN OF PERNETTY. 245 



is often referred to many of them, ^dz. that they 

 exhale an odour which is so strong and penetrating, 

 that whatever suhstance is impregnated with it, 

 retains it for many days, in spite of all that can 

 be done to overcome it. 



Pernetty's figure is well drawn ; the beak is 

 longer than in the common variety, and the general 

 proportions are smaller ; the lower jaw is curved 

 and longer than the upper ; the dorsal fin is more 

 pointed and placed further hack. 



As furnishing a lively sketch of the habits of the 

 whole genus, we subjoin an account of a hunt of 

 flying-fish, as narrated by an eye-witness, a fair and 

 interesting journalist. " The other morning a large 

 Dolphin which had been following the ship for some 

 distance, and was sparkling most gloriously in the 

 sun, suddenly detected a shoal of flying-fish rising 

 from the sea at some distance : AVith the rapidity of 

 lightning, he wheeled round, — made one tremen- 

 dous leap, and so timed his fall as to arrive fairly 

 at the place where our little friends, the flying-fish, 

 were forced to drop into the sea to refresh their 

 weary wing. A flight of sea-gulls now joined in 

 the pursuit ; w^e gave up our proteges for lost, when 

 to our great joy we beheld them rising again, for 

 they had merely skimmed the wave, and thus re- 

 cruited continued their flight. Their restless foe 

 pursued them with giant strides, now cutting the 

 wave, which flashed and sparkled with the reflection 

 of his brilliant coat, and then giving one huge leap, 

 which brought him up with his prey ; they seemed 



