SURFACE-SWIMMING FAUNA (VERTEBRATES). 121 



actually assisted by the flapping of the wings 

 or not, it is certain that the Fish do rise in 

 gusty weather to a very considerable height, 

 frequently falling on to the decks of steamers 

 twenty feet above the water line. 



At night, these Fish fly at the ships and not 

 away from them, as they do in the day time, and 

 the natives in some parts of the Malay Archi- 

 pelago catch them in large numbers by holding 

 up a torch by the side of a large sheet, when the 

 Fish flying at the bright light and striking against 

 it, fall into the bottom of the canoe. Flying-fish 

 are excellent to eat, their flesh being similar in 

 taste to that of the Herring, but an epicure would 

 probably say that it is not quite so good. 



The Bonito is a fish occurring over a wide area 

 of the tropical and temperate seas, which some- 

 times makes tremendous jumps out of the water. 

 I have seen it frequently on the coast of Celebes 

 jump to a height which I roughly estimated as 

 at least fifteen feet. It is said to feed upon the 

 Flying-fish, and it is probable that it has acquired 

 the power of springing out of the water in the 

 pursuit of its prey. 



The pelagic Fish, which has acquired the 

 widest reputation, and that an evil one, is the 

 "blue Shark." This occurs in the tropical and 

 occasionally in temperate seas. Its usual size is 

 from twelve to fifteen feet, but, according to Dr 

 Giinther, individuals of twenty-five and more feet 

 are occasionally captured. It is extremely vora- 

 cious, attacking anything of a fleshy nature that 

 it observes in the water. 



One of the most remarkable animals of the 



