TH-E FLYING FISH. 2? I 



Description Utility of its wings. 



THE FLYING FISH. 



THE winged flying fish, if we except its head 

 and flat back, has, in the form of its body, a 

 great resemblance to the herring. It is generally 

 nine inches long, and full four round at the 

 thickest part. The skin is uncommonly firm, 

 and the scales are large and silvery. The pec- 

 toral fins are very long; and the dorsal fin is 

 small, and placed near the tail, which is forked. 

 The eye, in consequence of the largeness of the 

 head, is admirably situated for discovering dan- 

 ger or prey ; and when pushed out of the socket, 

 which the fish can do considerably, its sphere of 

 vision is greatly increased. 



The flying fish inhabits the European, the 

 American, and the Red seas; but is chiefly 

 found within the tropics. The wings, with which 

 they have the power of raising themselves into 

 the air, are nothing more than large pectoral 

 fins, composed of seven or eight ribs, or rays, 

 connected by a flexible, transparent, and gluti- 

 nous membrane. They have their origin near 

 the gills, and are capable of considerable motion 

 backwards and forwards. These fins are used 

 also to aid the motion of the fish in the water; 

 and if we are to judge from the great length and 

 surface of the oars, comparatively with the size 

 of the body, the fish should be able to cut their 

 way through the water with great velocity. 



