Oh. XXn.] PLYING-FISH. 375 



water again, only to rise immediately once more, as simul- 

 taneously as if seized with a common panic ; and thus they 

 rise and fall two or three times, taking a course inclined about 

 45° to that of the ship, until ultimately a few only of the 

 shoal may be seen emerging here and there at some distance 

 on the ship's quarter. The only two instances in which I 

 ever observed them fly against the ship's bows happened 

 when they were pursued by Bonitos, or Albicores, a short 

 distance off, when they became so terrified that they flew in 

 all directions, blindly endeavouring to avoid their agile ene- 

 mies ; and I have been informed that under these circum- 

 stances they have sometimes flown in their terror so high 

 above the water that they have fallen upon the deck of a 

 ship. So also on two occasions I have known them fly into 

 a cabin through the open port, attracted by a light burning 

 within ; but whether from the same kind of fascination which 

 attracts the moth to the candle, or whether in consequence 

 of the pursuit of Albicores, I am, of course, unable to say. 

 Again, I may mention the fact that in situations in which we 

 know flying-fish to abound, the day may pass without any 

 being seen ; nor, although the weather may have been fine 

 and calm and inviting to the fish, did they emerge from the 

 sea upon spontaneous excursions. Nor have'I ever seen 

 them flying at a distance from the ship, imless at a time 

 when I could also see that they were pursued by Albicores, 

 &c. 



Next, with regard to their mode of flight. A shoal of a 

 hundred or so will rise simultaneously, — some proceeding a 

 considerable distance, say from one hundred to one hundred 

 and fifty yards, without falling into the water, while indivi- 

 duals wUl drop after proceeding a few feet ; and it is quite 

 impossible in such a shoal to single out one for satisfactory 



