l66 GEMMEOUS DRAGONET. Class IV. 



among the Uranofcopi : the pupils are of a rich fap- 

 pharine bine, the irides of a fine fiery carbuncle. 



The upper jaw projects much farther than the 

 lower : the mouth is very wide : the teeth are fmall. 



The pectoral fins are round, and of a light- 

 brown color ; the ventral placed before them, are 

 very broad, and confift of five branched rays. 



The firft dorfal fin is very lingular, the firft ray 

 being fetaceous, and fo long as to extend almoft 

 to the tail : thofe of the fecond dorfal fins are of a 

 moderate length, except the laft, which is produ- 

 ced far beyond the others. 



The anus is placed about the middle of the belly ; 

 the anal fin is broad, and the lalt ray the longeft. 

 Pontoppidan calls this fpecies the flying fifh : whe- 

 ther it makes ufe of any of its fins to raife itfelf out 

 of the water, as he was informed they did, we can- 

 not pretend to fay. 



The tail is rounded and long, and confifls of ten 

 rays. 

 Coitus. The fide line is flrait: the colors are yellow, 



blue, and white, and make a beautiful appearance 

 when the fifh has been juft taken. The blue is of 

 an inexprefiible fplendor, the richeft cerulean 

 glowing with a gemmeous brilliancy. The throat 

 is black. The membranes of all the fins extreme- 

 ly thin and delicate. 



Dracunculous 



