277 



FLYING SCORPvENA. 



Scorpaena Volitans. S.fitscojlavoquefasciata, pinnis pectoratibut 



maximis violaccis albo guttatis. 

 Scorpaena variegated with brown and yellow transverse bands, 



with very large violet-coloured pectoral fins spotted with 



white. 



Gasterosteus volitans. Lin. Syst. Nat. p. 4pl. 

 Scorpaena volans. S. pinnis ptctoralibus trunco longioribus. Block. 



t. 184. 



A FISH of a highly singular appearance: general 

 length ten or twelve inches : colour brownish 

 yellow, variegated by very numerous, deep-brown, 

 transverse stripes, three very narrow or linear ones 

 being interposed between the broader ones : pecto- 

 ral fins extremely large, and of a deep violet- 

 colour, spotted with white: the *ventral fins are of 

 similar colours : the other fins hyaline, with the 

 rays barred with brown ; those of the dorsal fin 

 projecting beyond the membrane : tail rounded : 

 head sloping downwards, marked by various ine- 

 qualities of surface, as well as by several spines and 

 cirri, and striped like the body, which is covered 

 with small scales : native of the rivers of Japan, 

 Amboina, &c. and considered as an excellent food : 

 probably uses its pectoral fins for the purposes of 

 occasional flight, like the fishes of the genus Exo- 

 coetus and some of the Triglae. 



