134 Mr. D. Seth-Smith,


fectly in their element far from any resting place save the ever-

rolling sea.


Gannets (Sula serrator ) are common in these seas, and we

frequently saw them, generally flying in twos or threes across

our bows. Their principal nesting home is on the smaller islands

situated in Bass Strait, where there are vast colonies. Farther

north, before our arrival in Australian waters we had seen the

Brown Gannet or “Booby” (Sula sula), a species of the tropics,

which in these cooler waters south of Australia is absent. Flying

fish which, to one who has never before been in tropical waters

are so interesting, were only seen singly or in small parties

here, instead of in great shoals as we had seen them in the

warmer seas. It is extremely interesting to watch them.


As the ship ploughs along, throwing up wings of spray

from her prow, these curious fishes, scared by the strange monster,

rush to the surface and spring into the air. Their long fins,

entering the less dense element, vibrate at an enormous rate,

and they fly away over the surface, undulating their flight with

the surface of the sea, rising and falling over the rolling waves for

twenty, fiftv, a hundred, or even a hundred and fifty vards. As

one watches them, each moment expecting to see the splash ;

which ends their flight, they continue on and on occasionally just i

lipping a wave, but continuing until at length their fins having '

apparently become dry by the hot sun and rapid motion through

the air, they fail to surmount a wave and, with an ignominious

splash, descend into the water. It has been said that they do

not really fly, but only sail with motionless fins- There is no

doubt whatever in my mind however that they do actually fly, and

fly well ; and I watched them very carefully indeed, often through j

powerful glasses.


Shoals of Dolphins were often seen, and are most interesting

to watch, as they come with great leaps out of the water, generally

making towards the ship ; shining brown objects witli long

pointed snouts. Long after the ship has passed them they can

be seen leaping and tumbling about like so many sea-kittens-

at play.


The most numerous birds perhaps are the Albatrosses,

though there were not so many seen on the outward as on the



