114 THE FLYING-FISH. 



and as it is a small animal, not larger than a herring, it is chiefly 

 sought by the dorado. 



THE FLYING-FISH 



Properly belongs to the fourth order, that of abdominales, to 

 be spoken of hereafter; but to render in this place the picture 

 more complete, we shall anticipate its history, and exhibit it in 

 the same view with the dorado. 



The head of the flying-fish is scaly ; its belly is angular ; the 

 pectoral fins, being the instruments of flight, are very large ; and 

 by their means it can, when pursued by any other fish, raise 

 itself out of the water, and support itself in the air until they be- 

 come dry ; but as soon as their moisture is exhausted, it drops 

 down again into its native element. 



As to the depredations carried on by the dorado against this 

 fish, the curious observer will perceive that Nature has, in an 

 eminent degree, furnished each of them respectively with the 

 powers of pursuit and evasion. The dorado, being above six 

 feet long, and not thicker than a salmon, cuts its way through the 

 water with amazing rapidity: on the other hand, the flying-fish 

 being Garnished with fins longer than its body, and these being 

 moved by a set of muscles exceedingly strong, this equality of 

 power furnishes one of the most animated scenes which those 

 remote seas can exhibit. The efforts of pursuit on one side, 

 and the arts of escape on the other, present a spectacle perfectly 

 amusing. The dorado is, on these occasions, seen darting after 

 its prey, which will not leave the water while it can ensure its 

 safety by swimming; but, like a hunted hare, being at last 

 wearied, it then has recourse to another expedient. The long 

 fins which began to grow useless in the water, are now employ- 

 ed in a different manner ; for, by means of these instruments, the 

 affrighted little creature rises out of the water, and flutters over 

 its surface for the space of two or three hundred yards, till the 

 moisture of its finny wings is exhausted, or the muscles which 

 move them are enfeebled by this extraordinary mode of exertion. 

 During this time the animal has acquired a fresh power of re- 

 newing its efforts in the water, and is capable of swimming with 

 a considerable degree of velocity. The active and persevering 

 enemy, however, still keeps it in view, and again drives it from 

 the deep, till at length the poor little fish, quite wearied out, is 

 observed to dart to shorter distances, to flutter with greater 

 effort, and at last to drop down into the mouth of its pursuer. 



The dorado, however, although one of the most formidable 

 enemies, is not the only one that the flying-fish has to dread. 

 All the predaceous fishes that swim in the ocean, and all the 

 birds of prey that range its surface, seem to be combined against 



