THE HEMIEAMPHUS. 
25 
mens had occurred in the towing-net, while approach- 
ing the island ; but 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 Ballahoo.* 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 Ballahoo, 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 
