CHAPTER XI.
RECREATIONS AND SPORTS.
A VERY favourite pastime of the young men is the capture of the flying-fish. This pretty little fish has a body somewhat resembling that of our herring, but is furnished with side fins of disproportionate size, which enable it to travel a considerable distance through the air. It does not readily take to the air unless pursued by some of its finny enemies. The chief of these is the beautiful coryphene, or dolphin as it is called by our seamen. The Colymbians train those coryphenes to pursue the flying-fish, and capture them in nets as they fall exhausted by their flight into the water. As the flying-fish frequent the still waters of the lagoon at particular seasons, parties are formed for their pursuit.
My friend Julian came to me one morning and told me a party was formed to have a flying-fish hunt, and inquired if I would join them, an offer I readily accepted. We numbered about a dozen, and arming ourselves with a hand-net, somewhat resembling an ordinary landing-net, proceeded in search of the game. One of the party had with him a brace of fine lively coryphenes, which he kept close beside him, and which excited my admiration by their agile and graceful
