FISH AND REPTILES. 385 



sight of the weapon than he made off in great haste, 

 moving along over many hundred yards of dry reef like 

 a serpent, without our being able to stop him. There 

 is a curious tradition about a species of sole called 

 " Davilai." Mr. Davilai used to be the leader of the 

 songs amongst the fishes, and one day, when all his 

 band were together and he was requested to com- 

 mence the strain, he obstinately refused to comply. 

 Enraged at such behaviour, the other fishes trod him 

 under foot till he became flat ; and hence, when a 

 person refuses to pitch a song, the proverb is, " Oh, 

 here is Mr. Davilai." There is also a most beautiful fish, 

 about as large as a gold fish and of the finest ultra- 

 marine colour ; it is very frequent about the coral-beds, 

 and a finer sight can scarcely be imagined than this 

 creature playing in the crystal water over what looks 

 like so much mosaic-work. 



Reptiles are comparatively few in species. There 

 are about ten different kinds of snakes, but none of 

 them larger than about six feet. A good many inhabit 

 trees, and often drop down ; some are eaten. Snakes 

 are collectively termed " Gata," and every species has a 

 distinctive name. A large frog, Boto or Dreli (Platy- 

 mantis Vitianus), is common about the swamps. There 

 are three kinds of turtle, collectively known as " Vonu." 

 The green turtle is called " Vonu dina," and that which 

 yields the shell the tortoise " Vonu taku." But there 

 is besides one which the natives term " Tovonu," said to 

 be from six to ten feet long ; however, I never have seen 

 it ; those which the chiefs often have in their turtle-ponds 

 are the two first-mentioned kinds. The lizard tribe is re- 



2 C 



