Cavallas and Pampanos 287 



Its colors, golden-blue with deep-blue spots, fade rapidly at 

 death, though the extent of this change has been much exag- 

 gerated. Similar changes of color occur at death in most bright- 

 colored fishes, especially in those with thin scales. The common 

 dolphin, or dorado (Coryphana hippurus), is found in all warm 



FIG. 222. Dolphin or Dorado, Coryphcena hippurus Linnaeus. New York. 



seas swimming near the surface, as usual in predatory fishes, 

 and reaches a length of about six feet. The small dolphin, 

 Coryphcena equisetis, rarely exceeds 2\ feet, and is much more 

 rare than the preceding, from which the smaller number of 

 dorsal rays (53 instead of 60) best distinguishes it. Young 

 dolphins of both species are elongate in form, the crest of the 

 head not elevated, the physiognomy thus appearing very differ- 

 ent from that of the adult. Goniognathus coryph&noides is an 

 extinct dolphin of the Eocene. 



The name dolphin, belonging properly to a group of small 

 whales or porpoises, the genus Delphinus, has been unfortu- 

 nately used in connection with this very different animal, which 

 bears no resemblance to the mammal of the same name. 



Other mackerel-like families not closely related to these 

 occur in the warm seas. The Leiognathida are small, silvery 

 fishes of the East Indies. Leiognathus argentatus (Equula) is 

 very common in the bays of Japan, a small silvery fish of mod- 

 erate value as food. Gazza minuta, similar, with strong teeth, 

 abounds farther south. Leiognathus fasciatum is common in 

 Polynesia. A fossil species called Parequula albyi occurs in the 

 Miocene of Licata. 



The Kurtida are small, short-bodied fishes of the Indian 

 seas, with some of the ribs immovably fixed between rings 



