482 FISHES. 



Of " Flying Gurnards " three species only are known, 

 "which are very abundant in the ]\Iediterranean, the tropical 

 Atlantic, and Indo-l*acific. They, and the n}dng Herrings 

 (Exocoetus), are the only fishes which are enabled by their 

 long pectoral fins to take flying leaps out of the water, and 

 deserve the name of " Flying-Fishes." They are much heavier, 

 and attain to a larger size, than the Exocoeti, specimens of 

 eighteen inches in length not being scarce. Wlien young, 

 their pectorals are much shorter, and, consequently, they are 

 unable to raise themselves out of the water {Ccjohcd acanthus). 

 The vertel)ral column shows a singular coalescence of the 

 anterior vertebrre, which form a simple tube, as in Fistularia. 



We insert here as an appendix to this division the small 

 family of Pegasidw, the natural affinities of which are not yet 

 clearly understood, but which resembles in some of its char- 

 acters the Catapkracti. 



Fifteenth Family — Peciasid.e. 



Body entirely covered witlt Ixmy plates, anehylosed on tlie 

 trunk and movable on the tail. Barhels none. The margin of 

 the vpi^er jain is formed hy the infer maxillaries and their cuta- 

 neous 2^rolon[/ation, 7vhich extends doumwards to the extremity 

 of the maxillaries. Gill-cover formed hy a large plate, homolo- 

 gous to the operculum, prccop)erculum, and suhoperculuni ; in- 

 teropercidum a long fine hone, hidden heloiv the gill-jjlate. One 

 rudi^nentary Irancliiostega.l. The gill-jjlate is united with the 

 isthmus hy a narroiu mcmhrane ; gill-openings narrow, in front 

 of the hase of the pectoral fin. Gills four, lamellated. Pscvdo- 

 hranchioj and air-hladder ahsent. One sliort dorsal and anal 

 fin, opposite to each other. Ventral fin pircsent. Ovarian sacs 

 closed. 



One genus only is known, Pegasus. Its pectoral fins are 

 broad, horizontal, long, composetl of simple rays, some of wliich 



