TROPICAL FISH. 271 



for the plucking of the birds' nests, first offer solemn prayers 

 to the goddess of the south coast, and deposit gifts on the 

 tomb where the first discoverer of the caves and their treasures 

 is said to repose. 



While traversing the tropical ocean, the mariner often sees 

 whole shoals of flying-fishes {Exocoetus volitans, Pterois 

 volitans) dart out of the water to escape the jaws of the bonito 

 and the coryphsena. But while avoiding the perils of the deep, 

 new dangers await them in the air ; for, before they can drop 

 into the sea, the frigate-bird frequently pounces upon them, 

 and draws them head-foremost into his maw. 



The bonito and coryphsena in their turn are often trans- 

 pierced by the lance of the sword-fish, who, like the saw-snouted 

 pristis, is said to engage even the sperm whale, and to put this 

 huge leviathan to flight. 



But of all the monsters of the tropical seas, there is none 

 more dreaded by man than the white shark. 



SWORD TAIL. 



Woe to the sailor that falls overboard while one of these 

 tyrants of the ocean is prowling about the ship ; but woe also 

 to the shark who, caught by a baited hook, is drawn on board, 

 for a slow and cruel death is sure to be his lot. Mutilated and 

 hacked to pieces, his torments are protracted by his uncommon 

 tenacity of life. 



Such, besides herds of playful dolphins, are the members 

 of the finny creation most commonly met with on the high seas, 

 but in general the waters at a greater distance from the land 

 are poor in fishes. The tropical fishes chiefly abound near the 

 coasts, in the sheltered lagoons, and in the channels which wind 

 through numberless reefs or islands. 



