310 FLYING KEPTILES, PISHES, AND MOLLUSCS. 



only shoot to considerable distances, but can impel 

 themselves to such a height that they can pass com- 

 pletely over the hull of a ship, and frequently are 

 known to strike among the rigging or against the sails, 

 and fall upon the deck. As their flesh is in much 

 repute, the sailors will sometimes hang lanterns on the 

 rigging at night, for the purpose of attracting the 

 Flying Fish, which, when starting out of the water, are 

 sure to make for the light, as do many other creatures 

 which are more nocturnal in their habits. 



Perhaps the best time to see the Flying Fish in 

 perfection is when a shoal of them is chased by the 

 splendid and voracious Coryphene, a fish which the 

 sailors will persist in calling by the name of dolphin. 

 The Coryphene, as soon as it sees its prey, dashes at it 

 like a greyhound at a hare, springing out of. the water 

 as if it too were about to take a flight. The Flying 

 Fishes soon see that they are pursued, and when they 

 drop upon the water, spring off again at an angle, 

 just like a hare doubling upon a greyhound, hoping 

 thereby to elude their terrible pursuer. 



But the Coryphene is too sharp-sighted to be de- 

 luded in that manner, and as the Flying Fishes alter 

 their direction, so does the Coryphene alter its own 

 course. In their power of flight the Fishes have 

 some advantage over their enemy, but the advantage 

 does not hold good for long. The speed of the Cory- 

 phene is fully twice as much as that of the Flying Fish, 

 and its endurance much greater. Their flights become 

 shorter and shorter, while the leaps of the pursuer 

 seem to become, as Capt. Hall says, more vigorous at 

 each bound. 



