234 '^^^ Flying^fish 



both are in the heart of Flying-fish territory, and both 

 are greatly frequented by all those larger fish which 

 feed on the Exocetus. Barbadoes alone possesses the 

 facilities for catching them, and the requisite energy 

 to do so. 



Flying-fish are also found in the Mediterranean, 

 but not in any great numbers. Also in the Red Sea 

 and Persian Gulf they are to be seen, but they are 

 by no means plentiful. It would really seem as if 

 the Flying-fish feels that nothing but the widest 

 breadths of ocean give him ample verge and room 

 enough, so that, although he is tempted occasionally 

 into the narrow seas, he never feels at home there, 

 and is anxious to get out to the vast playing-grounds 

 of old ocean. There, in spite of the hosts of his enemies, 

 he leads a life of perfect freedom, his numbers, despite 

 the amazing tax upon them, apparently never de- 

 creasing. But, as with all the other fish I have dealt 

 with, he cannot be studied, his society cannot be 

 enjoyed from the deck of the swift steamer. It is 

 necessary to be in a leisurely sailing ship to realise, 

 first, what the Flying-fish is ; secondly, what he 

 is capable of performing in the way of flight ; and 

 thirdly, how vast are his numbers. 



Very vividly come to my mind the many occasions 

 when I have seen more than a square mile of smooth 

 sea-surface suddenly broken into foam by the upheaval 

 of myriads of Flying-fish, who sped through the lucent 

 air like an undulating wave of molten silver, and 

 with a musical murmur like the hum of far-off bees. 

 How often have these wonderful little fish, like the 

 bonito, come just in time to save precious lives adrift 

 in boats or on rafts ! When all hope has fled, the 

 last crumb, the last drop has been expended, there 

 has fallen into the midst of the perishing ones these 



