90 WANDERINGS IN 



SECOND Jt can rise out of the waves, and on wing visit 



JOURNEY. 



- the domain of the birds. 



After flying two or three hundred yards, the 

 intense heat of the sun has dried its pellucid 

 wings, and it is obliged to wet them, in order 

 to continue its flight. It just drops into the 

 ocean for a moment, and then rises again and 

 flies on; and then descends to remoisten them, 

 and then up again into the air; thus passing 

 its life, sometimes wet, sometimes dry, sometimes 

 in sunshine, and sometimes in the pale moon's 

 nightly beam, as pleasure dictates, or as need 

 requires. The additional assistance of wings is 

 not thrown away upon it. It has full occupation 

 both for fins and wings, as its life is in perpetual 

 danger. 



The bonito and albicore chase it day and 

 night; but the dolphin is its worst and swiftest 

 foe. If it escape into the air, the dolphin pushes 

 on with proportional velocity beneath, and is 

 ready to snap it up the moment it descends to 

 wet its wings. 



You will often see above one hundred of these 

 little marine aerial fugitives on the wing at once. 

 They appear to use every exertion to prolong 

 their flight, but vain are all their efforts; for 

 when the last drop of water on their wings is 

 dried up, their flight is at an end, and they must 

 drop into the ocean. Some are instantly de- 

 voured by their merciless pursuer, part escape 



