18G THE OCEAN. 



that it can be considered as any other than a rare 

 occurrence. As the aerial boundings of the Flying- 

 fish, however, are of constant observation within the 

 tropics, it seems but natural to conclude that they 

 are but the frolicsome putting forth of superabundant 

 animal energy ; that they are, in fact, performed in 

 sportive play, as the lamb skips and leaps upon the 

 grass, or the dog pursues its own evasive tail. These 

 flights, generally performed in shoals, varying in 

 number from a dozen to a hundred or more, are 

 extremely pleasing, and sustain our interest even long 

 after they have become familiar to us. One is apt, 

 at first sight of a flock, especially if it be unexpected, 

 to mistake them for white birds flying by, till they 

 are seen to alight in the water. The length of the 

 bound is enormous, if it be indeed effected by a single 

 impulse : but careful observations leave no doubt 

 of the fact that these fishes do, like birds, increase 

 and renew their impetus by repeated strokes of their 

 wings on the air. I have myself repeatedly witnessed 

 this : I have observed them deviate from the uniform 

 curve which they usually describe, rising and sinking 

 alternately so as to keep at the same distance from 

 the undulations of the surface :* and Humboldt, one 

 of the most accurate of observers, speaks unhesita- 

 tingly of their flapping the air with their long fins. 

 Indeed, it would else seem almost impossible to 

 imagine that so small a fish, not so large as a herring, 

 should be able to propel itself to the height of twenty 

 feet, and to the distance of more than six hundred, 

 through the air. Generally, one takes his leap first, 



• See, for details, my "Naturalist's Sojouiu iu Jamaica," p. 9,etseq. 



