FAMILY ESOCIDE — EXOCETUS. 231 
THE SINGLE-BEARDED FLYING-FISH. 
ExoceETus COMATUS. 
PLATE XXXVI. FIG, 115. 
E. comatus, The Single-bearded Flying-fish. Mrrcnitx, Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y. Vol. 1, p. 448, pl. 5, fig. 1. 
E. appendiculatus. Woop, Journal Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 4, p. 283, pl. 17, fig. 2. 
Characteristics. A long black cirrus depending from the chin, with occasionally a shorter one 
on each side. Length five to six inches. 
Description. Head trihedral, depressed above, declivous. Body covered with robust deci- 
duous scales. Snout somewhat obtuse ; lateral line straight ; mouth small; a blackish cirrus 
2°5 long, depending from the chin. Dorsal with its anterior portion slightly elevated ; tips of 
the pectorals extend to the end of the dorsal fin. Ventrals under the dorsal, and extend 
towards the end of the anal. Caudal furcate ; upper lobe shortest. 
Color. Above brown ; beneath white. 
Length, 5:0. 
Hinrays; Day litorl3i) ParsssVii6. AL? "GC. 19: 
On the authority of Cuvier, I have united the species above cited. 
THE DOUBLE-BEARDED FLYING-FISH. 
EXoceTUs FURCATUS. 
Double-bearded Flying-fish, E. furcatus. Mircniix, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 449, pl. 5, fig. 2. 
£. nuttallii? Lesugur, Ac. Sciences, Vol. 2, p. 10, pl. 4, fig. 1 (young). 
Characteristics. Abdomen with a series of carinated scales. Two cirri, or laciniated appen- 
dages, to the lower jaw. Length three inches. 
Description. Eyes large. Ventral fins very long, and placed about two-thirds of the dis- 
tance between the pectorals and the vent. Dorsal and anal large and truncated. Scales 
small, adherent. 
Color. Bluish above ; silvery on the sides. Pectorals and ventrals with brown bands. 
Length, 3°0. 
iehinirays,. D..15%. V., 10s Ae SiC. 17. 
The descriptions of both the above cited authors are very incomplete, but I believe there 
can be little doubt of the identity of the species. The mesogaster, cited by Mitchill, is very 
doubtful, and certainly has not been found on our northern coast as far as I am acquainted. 
The fasciatus of Lesueur (Ac. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 9), observed near the Gulf of Mexico, I am 
disposed to refer to the exiliens of Bloch. The bearded flying-fish have been very properly 
united into a distinct group, under the name of Cyprilurus, by some recent writers. 
