290 . SC0MBEES0CIDJ3. 



somewhat pointed, three-fourths of the diameter of the eye, which is 

 a little less than one-thii-d of the length of the head and more than 

 the width of the iutcrorbital space, which is flat. The pectoral fin 

 extends scarcelj" to the end of the dorsal and anal. Ventral fins 

 midway between eye and root of the caudal, extending beyond the 

 middle of the base of the anal. The dorsal commences far in advance 

 of the origin of the anal, its anterior rays being not quite half as 

 long as the head. There are twenty-nine scales between the occiput 

 and the origin of the dorsal, and seven longitudinal series of scales be- 

 tween the origin of the dorsal and the lateral line. Pectoral with a 

 broad oblique white band across its lower half, and with a broad 

 whitish edge. Ventral white, the middle rays greyish. 

 China. 



a. Eight and a half inches long. China. Presented by General 

 Hardwicke. 



26. Exoccetus nigricans. 



Exocoetus nigricans, Henn. Whal. Vay. ii. p. 287. 



bicolor, Cim. <5r Val. xix. p. Ill; Bleek. Ned. Tydschr. Dierk. 



iii. p. 132. 

 spilopus, Cuv. Sf- Val. xix. p. 118 ; Gtiich. in Ramon cle la Sagra, 



Hist. Cub. Poiss. p. 152, pi. 4. fig.. 2. 



D. 15. A. 9-10. L. lat. 48. 



The height of the body is two-thirteenths of the total length 

 (without caudal), the length of the head two-ninths. The dejjth of 

 the head equals the distance between the extremity of the snout and 

 the hind margin of the orbit. Snout depressed, of moderate extent, 

 nearly equal in length to the diameter of the eye, which is two- 

 sevenths of the length of the head and considerably less than the 

 width of the interorbital space, which is slightly concave. Lower 

 jaw prominent. The pectoral fin extends beyond the end of the 

 dorsal, nearly to the root of the caudal. Ventral fin midway be- 

 tween eye and root of the caudal, extending to the end of the anal. 

 The dorsal commences far in advance of the origin of the anal, the 

 length of its anterior rays being two-thirds of that of the head. 

 There are twenty-eight scales between the occiput and the origin of 

 the dorsal, and six longitudinal series of scales between the origin of 

 the dorsal and the lateral line. Pectoral black, with a broad oblique 

 white band, which commences in the axil of the fin, and tapers on 

 the upper rays. Ventral white, with a large black blotch on its hinder 

 half ; dorsal white anteriorly, black on its posterior two-thirds. 



Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. 



a. Adult. Java. Purchased of Mr. Jamrach. 



27. Exocoetus altipinnis. 



Exoccetus altipenuis, Cuv. ^- Val. xix. p. 109, pi. 500. 

 D. 13. A. 12. 

 The height of the body is one-eighth of the total length (with the 



