THE FLYING FISH. 305 



&as, recourse to another expedient. The long fins 

 which began to, grow useless in the water, are now 

 employed in a different manner; for, by means of 

 these instruments, the affrighted little creature rises 

 out of the water,, and flutters over its surface for the 

 space of two or three hundred yards, till the moisture 

 of its finny wings is exhausted, or the muscles which 

 moved them are enfeebled by this extraordinary 

 mode of exertion. During this time the animal has 

 acquired a fresh power of renewing its efforts in the 

 water, and is capable of swimming with a consider- 

 able degree of velocity. The active and persevering 

 enemy, however, still keeps it in view, and again 

 drives it from the deep, till at length, the poor little 

 fish, quite wearied out, is observed to dart to shorter 

 distances, to flutter with greater effort, and at last to 

 drop down into the mouth of its pursuer. 



The dorado, however, although one of the most for- 

 midable enemies, is not the only one that the flying 

 fish has to dread. AH the predaceous fishes that' swim 

 in the ocean, and ail the birds of prey that range its 

 surface, seem to be combined against it; for when it 

 has escaped from its enemies of the deep, the tropic 

 bird, and the albatross, ever upon the wing, are fre- 

 quently ready to seize it. In the tropical climates 

 these fishes, when hotly pursued, are seen springing by 

 hundreds out of the water, and sometimes they throw 

 themselves on board of ships, in order to escape their 

 various assailants. We cannot, however, my dear 

 Sir, but remark, that the all-wise and beneficent Au- 

 thor of Nature, in destining this fish to be exposed to 

 the assaults of such a variety of enemies, has endowed 

 it with double powers of escape. 



To this third order of fishes belong the plaice and 

 the flounder, the sole and the turbot, the perch and 

 the tunny ; all furnishing a delicious supply to our 

 tables, and exhibiting, at the same time, a grand dis- 

 play of nature's prolific energy, and of the benefi- 

 cence of the Creator, in thus amply providing for the 

 Comfortable subsistence of the human species. 



To these, and a great number of others of the. same 



