44 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [1885. 



and tail. No lateral series of large spiues on the tail on this specimen, 

 a male. A couple of large spines side by side in front of and near the 

 dorsals, somewhat as in U. clavata. A group of large spiues on the 

 anterior extremity of each pectoral and a single row of retractile hooks 

 on each near the outer angle. The greater portion of the disk is smooth. 

 The claspers are long, slender, tapering, acutely pointed. Instead of 

 bearing a sickle-shaped hook on its extremity, as in E. erinacea, the sty- 

 lus of the clasper is forked and one of the slender branches becomes 

 pointed and flexible and the other curved, expanded at the end, and 

 sharp edged. 



Total length 23 ; snout to vent, 11.5; snout to shoulder girdle, G.75; 

 snout to mouth 3, and greatest width 15.5 inches. 



Color dark olivaceous, lighter toward margins, with white or trans- 

 lucent spaces at each side of the rostrum. Mottled and spotted with 

 dark beneath the thoracic region. A rounded spot of light color around 

 a dark center on each pectoral near the shoulder. 



No. 16704, San Francisco, Cal. 



Named for Prof. D. IS. Jordan. 



A REVIEW OF THE AMERICAN SPECIES OF FLYING FISHES 



(EXOCCETUS). 



By DAVID S. JORDAIV and $^X:TH E. ITIEEK. 



In the present paper we have attempted to give the synonymy of the 

 American species of Exocoetus, with an analytical key by which those 

 known to us may be distinguished. Some of the less-known forms we 

 have described in detail. 



There are few groups of fishes in which our knowledge is in a more 

 confused state than in this. It is our hope that the present paper will, 

 at least, not make matters worse. This paper is in some regards sup- 

 plementary to that of Dr. Liitken (Vidensk. Meddel. Naturh. Foren. 

 1876), which is the only critical review of the species of this group thus 

 far published. 



It is evident that few, if any, of the flying-fishes are local in their 

 distribution ; many of them are certainly found in all warm seas. Sev- 

 eral of the supposed East Indian forms will doubtless prove, on further 

 comparison, to be identical with Atlantic species. 



The multiplication of'nomiual species on characters peculiar to imma- 

 ture individuals has been carried to an unfortunate extreme. It is to 

 be earnestly hoped that future writers who may possess specimens of 

 bearded Exocoeti, or of other young flying fishes of less than 5 or 6 

 inches in length, will content themselves with describing such speci- 

 mens without imposing on them any new specific names. The changes 

 due to increased age are often remarkable, and, in most cases, the sup- 

 posed characters of species based on young specimens are characters 

 of immaturity, common to the young of many flying fishes. 



