FLYING-FISH. 29 



fish ; it is surprising how many different opinions 

 have been formed on the subject of this fish ; some 

 considering it seeks the air for sport or pastime, 

 whilst others regard it as only taking flight 

 when pursued, and 'thus decide its existence to 

 be a continued series of troubles and persecutions. 

 Between such opposite opinions, we can only form 

 our judgment from actual observation, and there 

 is one circumstance without any doubt resting 

 upon it ; that the supposed w^ar of extermination 

 exercised against them has not diminished their 

 numbers, forthey are observed in as large "flocks" 

 at the present day, as navigators have related 

 of them former days ; they must also have 

 had a long cessation of hostilities from the 

 time of birth, to enable them to arrive at ma- 

 turity. To say that these fish undergo per- 

 secution more than any other living animals 

 of the creation, is absurd, for we may observe 

 the same principle throughout the whole of the 

 animated kingdom of nature. 



On arriving in tropical regions, this curious 

 fish is seen, and affords some variety to the tedium 

 of a ship ; the passengers amusing themselves by 

 watching its flight, and sometimes its " persecu- 

 tion," when pursued by bonitos, dolphins, 

 albicores, among the finny, and tropic birds, 

 boobies, gannets, &c. among the feathered tribe. 



