316 THE OCEAN. 



of the Mackerel family. They are of considerable 

 size, but the Albacore {Scoher Germo) is the larger, 

 sometimes being found six feet in length. Like its 

 relative, our own Mackerel, it is a fish of much 

 elegance, and its colours are beautiful. The back 

 is bright azure, with a golden tint; the belly and 

 sides silvery, with rainbow reflections, like mother- 

 of-pearl, and the same notched fins near the tail 

 are bright yellow. In slight winds, when the mo- 

 tion of a ship is slow, these fishes are usually to 

 be seen around her; if she be becalmed, and con- 

 sequently motionless, they remain at some little 

 distance, when the most tempting bait is ineffec- 

 tual ; but if she be sailing rapidly before a brisk 

 breeze, they pertinaciously keep her company, keep- 

 ing close alongside, and seizing the hook with avi- 

 dity. The Albacore, as already hinted, is one of 

 the hunters of the little Flying-fish. It is said to 

 be highly interesting to watch one of these fishes 

 keenly engaged in pursuit of its volatile prey : to 

 mark the precision with which it keeps exactly be- 

 neath during the aerial leaps of the victim, keeping 

 it steadily in sight, prepared to snap it up, on the 

 instant of its submersion. The Flying-fish, how- 

 ever, by its exceeding agility, darting again into 

 the air in a moment, sometimes contrives to escape 

 the fearful jaws of its adversary. 



The Albacore, in its turn, has occasion to exer- 

 cise cunning and contrivance, to evade the attacks 

 of a still mightier foe. Mr. F. D. Dennett mentions 

 that, on one occasion, "The Albacore around the 

 ship afforded us an extraordinary spectacle; they 



