Hawaiian Fishes 



277 



THE FLYING GURNARD FAMILY 



111 Family Cephalacanthidae (Dactylopteridae) 

 The flying gurnards are described as among the most fantastic 

 inhabitants of the sea. They have a short and bony head, a coat of firm 

 scales over the body, and long and wing-like pectoral fins. These fins are 

 divided into two parts. The first part is composed of rays which are used 

 somewhat as legs and serve to hold the creature off the sand and to feel 

 about for food. The second part of the fin is long and wing-like and 

 reaches to the end of the body. These fins are beautifully colored with 

 blue and brownish-red and serve as wings when the fish glides above 

 the water. 



The gurnards are able to sail through the air somewhat like the flying 

 fishes but for much shorter distances. 



The family is a small one and is distributed in warm seas. It contains 

 but a single genus and from two to four species, one of which occurs in 

 the Hawaiian Islands. 



Pacific Flying Gurnard or Loloau 



111-1 Dactyloptera orientalis (Cuvier) 



From Jordan & Evermonn 



The common flying gurnard is of a dull drab color above and whitish 

 beneath. The body and the pectoral fins are marked with orange and 

 golden spots. It reaches a length of fourteen inches. 



