Acanthopterygii ; Synentognathi 2 1 3 



having the anal fin much modified in the male, forming an 

 intromittent organ, as in the Paciliida. One species occurs in 

 the river mouths in Samoa. 



The flying-fishes have both jaws short, and at least the 



FIG. lf>8. Sharp-nosed Flying-fish, Fodiator acutus (Val.). Panama 



pectoral fins much enlarged, so that the fish may sail in the air 

 for a longer or shorter distance. 



The smaller species have usually shorter fins and approach 

 more nearly to the halfbeaks. Fodiator acutus, with sharp 

 jaws, and Hemiexoccetus, with a short beak on the lower jaw, 

 are especially intermediate. The flight of the flying-fishes is 

 described in detail on p. 157, Vol. I. 



The Catalina flying-fish, Cypselurus calif ornicus , of the shore 

 of southern California is perhaps the largest of the known species, 

 reaching a length of 18 inches. To this genus, Cypselurus, 

 having a long dorsal and short anal, and with ventrals en- 

 larged as well as pectorals, belong all the species strongest in 

 flight, Cypselurus heterurus and furcatus of the Atlantic, Cypse- 

 lurus simus of Hawaii and Cypselurus agoo in Japan. The very 

 young of most of these species have a long barbel at the chin 

 which is lost with age. 



In the genus Exonautes the base of anal fin is long, as long 

 as that of the dorsal. The species of this group, also strong 

 in flight, are widely distributed. Most of the European flying- 

 fishes, as Exonautes rondeleti, Exonautes speculiger, and Exo- 

 nautes vinciguerra, belong to this group, while those of Cypselurus 

 mostly inhabit the Pacific. The large Australian species Exo- 

 nautes unicolor, Fig. 226, Vol. I, belongs to this group. In the 

 restricted genus Exoc&tus the ventral fins are short and not 

 used in flight. Exoccetus volitans (evolans) is a small flying-fish, 



