326 THE OCEAN. 



mon Gannet; neither is it a sufficient explanation 

 to affirm, as is sometimes done, that it arises from 

 a peculiar difficulty in rising to flight after alight- 

 ing, because it is not un frequently caught in the air 

 by the hand; so incautiously does it approach man. 

 Notwithstanding this apparent stupidity, the Booby 

 is a dexterous fisher: hovering over a shoal of fishes, 

 he eagerly watches their motions, turning his head 

 from side to side in a very ludicrous manner; he 

 presently sees one of the unwary group approach 

 the surface; down he pounces like a stone, plunging 

 into the ware, which boils into foam with the shock. 

 Nor fails he to seize the scaly victim, with which 

 he emerges into the air, and soon it is lodged 

 whole in his capacious stomach. But the Frigate- 

 bird (Tachypetes aquilus) has watched the proceeding, 

 and instantly betakes himself to the pursuit; flight 

 is vain from the swiftest ranger of the Ocean, whose 

 extended wings measure a width of seven feet. The 

 Frigate-bird swooping down upon the unfortunate 

 Booby, compels him to disgorge the fish which he 

 has just swallowed, and which, long ere it can reach 

 the water, is seized, and again devoured by the op- 

 pressor. 



The Frigate-bird neither swims nor dives; the 

 seamen fully believe that it even sleeps upon the 

 wing; whether this be so or not, there is good 

 evidence that the same individuals will remain in 

 the air for several successive days : they are never 

 known to alight on a vessel. Though the chase of 

 the Booby is so usual as to be considered one of 

 its constant means of dependence, yet it also fishes 



