THE NATURALIST AT SEA. 5 



The writer had exceptional opportunities of closely observ- 

 ing flying-fish in the Indian Ocean during most unusually 

 calm weather. While describing the parabolic curve in the 

 air the creature never moves its fins. It is only when it 

 touches the water again that it gives several vigorous flaps 

 with its fins until it attains sufficient impetus for another 

 flight. Seen from a distance, these fish certainly do seem 

 to flap their fins in the air. This, however, is probably an 

 optical illusion caused by the reflection of the sunlight from 

 the fins as the creature sways from side to side during 

 its flight. Flying-fish do not appear to remain longer than 

 seventy or eighty seconds out of water. They attain a 

 considerable speed during their flight, probably between 

 twenty and thirty miles an hour. In the daytime these 

 fish fly away from the ship ; at night they fly at it, and some- 

 times enter a porthole. 



The Bonito is a large fish often seen in tropical seas. 

 This creature is capable of taking enormous jumps out 

 of the water. It is said to feed upon flying-fish and to 

 catch them during their flight in the air. 



Before leaving the subject of marine vertebrata, mention 

 must be made of the turtles which are sometimes visible in 

 great numbers floating in the Mediterranean near the 

 shore. These organisms are especially abundant off the 

 Coast of Greece. Their carapace acts as a most efficient float. 



Insects are frequently blown out to sea by gales of wind, 

 and occasionally fall on ships. In the Red Sea we passed 

 through a flight of locusts, a great number of which fell 

 upon board. As a rule, insects are not common at sea. 

 There is, however, a small white moth that flits over the 

 surface of the ocean. This insect is common in the Arabian 

 Sea. How these moths get there is a mystery. Some 

 people think that they are evolved from grubs on ships. 

 Their number would, however, seem to preclude this 

 theory. 



Great variety of bird-life is not usually seen during the 

 voyage from England. On the banks of the Suez Canal 



