290 FLYING-FISH. HERRING. 



which appears a rich variable blue and purple ; and the 

 sides and belly are of a silvery hue. 



THE FLYING-FISH. 



The head of this fish is scaly ; the belly is angular, and 

 the pectoral fins, the instruments of flight, are very large. 

 When pursued by any other marine animal, it raises itself 

 from the water by means of these long fins, and can sup- 

 port itself in the air till they become dry, when it again 

 drops into its native element. It seems to lead a wretched 

 life, being constantly pursued by fishes of prey ; and, when 

 it has recourse to flight, it frequently meets its fate from 

 the gull or the albatross, or perhaps drops down again 

 into the mouth of its original pursuer. Between the 

 tropics it is common, and there its enemies are the most 

 numerous. In those climates it is seen springing out of 

 the deep by hundreds ; and sometimes it throws itself on 

 board of ships, in order to escape its various assailants. It 

 is about a foot long, of a whitish colour, and the flesh is 

 reported to be palatable and nourishing. 



THE HERRING. 



Herrings differ greatly in size, but the usual length is 

 from nine to twelve inches. The back and sides are varied 

 with green and blue, and the belly is silvery. The gill- 

 covers are extremely loose and patulous, which occasions 

 the immediate death of the fish when taken out of the water ; 

 and hence the common saying, " As dead as a herring." 



This fish is found in the greatest abundance through all 

 the high northern latitudes. In those unnavigable seas, 

 which are covered with ice the greatest part of the year, 

 they find a quiet and secure retreat from all their nume- 

 rous enemies. Insects, on which they subsist, are also ex- 

 tremely plentiful there ; from which favourable circum- 

 stance their increase is beyond conception, which obliges 

 them to migrate in quest of new settlements. The great 

 colony of herrings sets out from the polar seas about the 

 middle of winter, but soon separates into two shoals : one 



