338 The Animal-Lore of SJiaTcspeare’s Time . 
tropics ; one of these is “ the bonito, or Spanish makerill, 
altogether like nnto a mackerell, but that it is somewhat 
more growne; he is reasonable food, but dryer than a 
mackerell ” ( Purchas, yol. iv. p. 1375). The name 
Spanish mackerel is given by Yarrell to another species 
of fish. The name Bonito, according to this author, 
belongs properly to a species of tnnny, which is very com¬ 
mon in the tropical seas, and which is especially noticed 
by sailors for its inveterate pursuit of the flying-fish. In 
a second voyage, Sir Bichard Hawkins gives an account 
of the persecution of the unfortunate flying-fish by its 
numerous enemies :— 
“ There be also of sea-fishes, which we saw coming along the coast 
flying, which are of the bignesse of a smelt, the biggest sort whereof 
have foure wings, but the other have but two: of these wee sawe com- 
ming out of Guinea a hundred in a company, which being chased by 
the gilt-heads, otherwise called the bonitos, do to avoid them the 
better, take their flight out of the water, but yet are they not able to flie 
farre, because of the drying of their wings, which serve them not to flie 
but when they are moist, and therefore, when they can flie no further, 
they fall into the water, and having wet their wings, take a new flight 
againe. These be of bignesse like a carpe, and in colour like a maka- 
rell, but' it is the swiftest fish in swimming that is, and followeth her 
prey very fiercely, not only in the water, but also out of the water, for as 
the flying fish taketh her flight, so doth this bonito leape after them, 
and taketh them sometimes above the water. There were some of 
these bonitos, which being galled by a fisgig, did follow our shippe 
comming out of Guinea 500 leagues. There is a sea-fowle also that 
chaseth this flying fish as well as the bonito: for as the flying fish 
taketh her flight, so doth this fowle pursue to take her, which is a 
greater pleasure then hawking, for both the flights are as pleasant, and 
also more often then an hundred times : for the fowle can flie no way, 
but one or other lighteth in her pawes, the number of them are so 
abundant. There is an innumerable yoong frie of these flying fishes, 
which commonly keepe about the ship, and are not so big as butter¬ 
flies, and yet by flying do avoid the unsatiablenesse of the bonito.” 
( 'Hakluyt , vol. iii. p. 616.) 
It is perhaps scarcely necessary to point out an error in 
the above account. The fish whose existence is thus embit- 
