146 



AMERICAN FLYING-FISH. 



Exocoetus Mesogaster. E. argenteo-ccerulesccns, pinnis centra* 



libits in media abdominis. 

 Silvery-blueish Flying-Fish, with the ventral fins situated on 



the middle of the abdomen. 

 Exocoetus pinnis ventralibus in aequilibrio. Bloch. t. 399. 



ALLIED in the highest degree to the immediately 

 preceding as to general appearance, but differs in 

 the size and situation of the ventral fins, which in 

 this species are placed exactly in the middle of the 

 abdomen, and are moderately large, and of a rounded 

 form. The colour of the fish is bright silvery, with 

 a dusky tinge on the back : the fins arc blueish, 

 the dorsal and anal somewhat less shallow than 

 those of the two preceding species. Native of the 

 Atlantic ocean : observed by Plimiier about the 

 coasts of the Antilles. 



COMMERSONIAN FLYINC-1 IS!!. 



Exocoetus Commersonii. E. macula atroccrrvku in pinna dorsali. 

 Flying-Fish with a dark- blue spot on the dorsal fin. 

 Exocoetus Commersonii. Cepcde. 5. p. 401. 



ALLIED to the E. evolans, but with the ventral 

 fins placed beyond the middle of the abdomen, 

 their tips reaching to about the middle of the anal 

 fin : the dorsal fin is marked, on the part nearest 

 the tail, with a large deep-blue spot. Native of 

 the Indian seas : observed by Commerson. 



