ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY OF FIJI. 139 



the company even by a single stave, whereupon, in revenge 

 for such a slight, the other fishes trod him under foot until he 

 became literally as flat as a flounder, or his own voice, and that 

 flatness of shape has continued in the family ever since. Hence 

 the natives say when anyone refuses to oblige the company 

 with a song, ' Here is Mr. Davilai !' 



I mentioned the general absence of fresh fish at Levukan 

 dinner-tables. There are many varieties in addition to the 

 mullet, of which the golden-tailed variety is the most common 

 the silver fish, the sanki (some of which weigh as much as 

 8 Ib. each) ; the sievala, the flying-fish ; the gard (so esteemed 

 in Sydney), the pike, a species of skate ; the schnapper, and 

 john-dory, while some authorities add the sole and singaree. 

 The fishing is by hand-nets, and of the most primitive de- 

 scription. 



Shrimps and prawns are caught all over Fiji, and in parts of 

 Viti Levu ; in the estuaries of the big rivers, the Rewa, Siga- 

 toka, and Ba, a description of ecrevisse is found, fairly edible, 

 though I never hear of Bisque soup being attempted. Lobsters 

 in some parts of the group are plentiful at times. In many of 

 the lesser islands a species of land-crab is found, called agavule, 

 Avhich has strong pugnacious proclivities. It. is a fact that 

 they will climb the most lofty palms in search of cocoa-nuts, 

 from which they succeed in extracting the contents. 



The shore abounds with a large variety of beautiful shells, 

 the most prized and valuable being the orange cowrie (Cyprct, 

 aurantium), which is used largely for ornamental purposes by 

 the natives. There is a good supply of several kinds of oysters, 

 and a prospect of remunerative pearl-fishing in the adjacent 

 seas. 



There are three varieties of turtle, including the aldermanic 

 favourite, which yields the celebrated 'green fat,' and the 



