THE HEMIEAMPHCS. 25 



mens had occurred in the towing-net, while approach- 

 ing the island ; hut they were young, and not more 

 than a few inches in length. But at this time about 

 fifty were gathered, in the perfectly smooth water 

 under the ship's stern, where they remained actively- 

 playing just beneath the surface. They were all of 

 nearly the same size, about a foot in length. The 

 negro-boys called them Ballaboo.* A few bits of 

 bread which the steward had just shaken from the 

 breakfast-cloth, were objects of great attention to 

 the fishes ; they clustered round each fragment, and 

 bit at it every moment, not attempting, however, to 

 take it in by opening the jaws ; but each fish suc- 

 cessively making a dart at it obliquely from beneath, 

 and just touching its underpart with the point of the 

 upper (and shorter) jaw. I could not perceive that 

 their attacks, though pertinaciously continued, de- 

 tached any sensible quantity, though some very small 

 fragments were carried down a few inches below the 

 surface, and then being let go rose again. Presently 

 a Garfish {Belone) called Piper, about two feet in 

 length, appeared among the Ballaboo, and was fol- 

 lowed by another. I observed that the shoal of 

 Half-beaks gave these strangers a wide berth, though 

 they did not disperse. Probably this singularly 

 formed fish habitually feeds on greasy substances, 

 or minute animalcules that float near the surface, 

 always taking its food from beneath. The Garfish 

 and the Saury {Scomberesox) are both surface-swimming 

 genera. 



* Probably H. apicalis (Bennett), or H. Brownii (Cuv. and Val.). 

 C 



