284 ZOOLOGY. 



The genus Elagatis is nearly allied to Caranx, and 

 this species bears some resemblance to C. Chrysurus, 

 La Cepede. Examples came under our notice in the 

 Pacific Ocean and Indian Archipelago, from lat. 6 N. 

 to 8 S. They were very numerous around a log of 

 drift-wood, on the Equator, in long. 140 E., as well as 

 in the Straits of Timor. The average length of the 

 specimens we obtained was one foot and a half ; though 

 one individual measured in its whole length three feet. 

 They are shy of the hook, but their flesh is a delicate 

 and delicious food. 



ORDER, ABDOMINALES. 



THE FLYING-FISH. 



(Exoc&tus VolitanSy Linn.) 



Although the Exocsetus family is so well known by 

 its trivial name, voyaging naturalists find some difficulty 

 in determining the species they meet with, by the de- 

 scriptions of authors. The nearest approach to the 

 species Volitans of Linnaeus, possesses the following 

 characters. Entire length, from six inches to one foot; 

 body nearly quadrangular ; branchiostegous rays, ten ; 

 dorsal, fourteen ; pectoral, fifteen ; ventral, six ; anal, 

 fourteen ; caudal, fifteen ; colour of the head and back, 

 blue ; abdomen silvery ; pectoral fins powdered with 

 gray; iris silver-white with blue stains; lower lobe 

 of the tail nearly one half longer than the upper. 



Linnseus describes the genus Exocsetus as being des- 

 titute of teeth ; while Bloch, and some other ichthy- 

 ologists justly dissent from that too general opinion. 

 It has occurred to me to meet with many examples, 

 corresponding accurately with E. Volitans, of Linnseus, 

 which were destitute of teeth ; while others, differing 



