SCIENTIFIC SURVEY. 93 



Sub-class Teleostei. Cottoid^. 



Sub-family Dactylopterin^, Lac. Genus Dactylopterus, Lacepede. 



Gen. CiL'm. The rays under the pectorals are numerous and large and are united 

 by a membrane into supernumerary fins, larger than the fish itself, and which 'will 

 support it in the air for some length of time. The muzzle which is very short appears 

 to be cleft like the lips of a hare ; the mouth is situated beneath ; there are in the 

 jaws only, certain rounded teeth, arranged like pavement ; the head is flat, rect- 

 angular, and granulated. The preoperculum is terminated by a long and strong 

 spine. All the scales are carinated. — Storer. 



Dactylopterus volitans. Guv. 

 Sea Swallow. Flying Finger Fin. 



This Sea swallow is one of those singular fishes that have the 

 power of springing into the air, and by means of its long and wide 

 spread pectoral fins supporting or buoying itself up some little time, 

 and thus scaling along quite a distance forward. It is qne of those 

 varieties called flying fish, though there is no flying done, the large 

 fins acting only as a sort of parachute to let them down gently as 

 the momentum of the spring they take just before they leave the 

 water, ceases. It is thus enabled to elude its numerous enemies, 

 though it undoubtedly often performs the act for the sport of it. They 

 have a wide territorial range, according to some, from Newfound- 

 land to Brazil. They swim together in large schools (scholes?) 

 and their frolics, in sea and air, often enliven the dullness and monot- 

 ony of a sea voyage. Sometimes, as they are not very well able to 

 steer, or vary their course, they fall on board, of vessels in their 

 way. 



Specific Description. Head somewhat foursided and wider than 

 its height, and flatish above and of a darker color than its body, and 

 there is a furrow between the eyes descending down in front, gran- 

 ulated. Mouth rather small, lower jaw shortest, lips fleshy. Teeth 

 small, conical, three or four rows on the jaws. Small teeth exist on 

 the pharyngeal bones but none on the palate — nostrils double, low- 

 er one smallest — snout very blunt, upper jaw of a yellowish color. 

 Eyes large and circular. " Suborbitar bones are pushed forward 

 nearly joining in front, their posterior upper angle passes upward 

 and the opposite inferior angle continued back to the preoperculum 

 where it terminates in a sharp point. The preoperculum has a long 

 stout spine extending to the base of the pectoral fins. Operculum 

 is small, covered with scales and is triangular in form. The body, 



