WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 157 



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 tlie 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 devoured by their 

 merciless pursuer, part escape by swimming, and others get 

 out again as quick as possible, and trust once more to tlieir 

 wings. 



It often happens that this unfortunate little creature^ 

 after alternate dips and flights, finding all its exertions of 

 no avail, at last drops on board the vessel, verifying the old 

 remark, 



' ' Inci Jit in Scyllam, cupiens vitare Charybdim. " 



There, stunned by the fall, it beats the deck with its tail 

 and dies. When eating it, you woidd take it for a fresh 

 heiTing. The lar^^est measure from fourteen to fifteen 

 inches in length. The dolphin, after pursuing it to 

 the ship, sometimes forfeits his own life. 



In days of yore, the musician used to play in softest, 

 sweetest strain, and then take an airing amongst the 

 dolphins ; " inter delphiuas Arion." But nowadays, our 

 tars have quite capsized the custom ; and instead of riding 

 ashore on the dolphin, they invite the dolphin aboard. 

 "While he is darting and playing around the vessel, a sailor 

 goes out to the spritsailyard-arm, and with a long staff, 

 leaded at one end, and armed at the other with five barbed 

 spikes, he heaves it at him. If successful in his aim, there 

 is a fresh mess for all hands. The dying dolphin affords a 

 superb and brilliant sight : 



" Miile trahit moriens, ad verso sole colores." 



