274 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Slender flying fish Great flying fish. 



vere : we should consider that, as a fish, it often 

 escapes the attack of birds ; and, in its winged 

 character, the individuals often throw themselves 

 out of the power of the aquatic race. 



They are frequently either unable to direct 

 their flight out of a straight line, or else they 

 become exhausted on a sudden ; for sometimes 

 whole shoals of them fall on board the ships that 

 navigate the seas of warm climates. 



This fish was known to the ancients, for Pliny 

 mentions it under the name of hirundo, and re- 

 lates its faculty of flying. The taste of it some- 

 what resembles mackrel. 



The slender flying fish corresponds with the 

 preceding in having the sides of the belly ridged, 

 but from which it may be discovered at first 

 sight by the slenderness of the body and the 

 great length of the ventral fins. This species has 

 been generally confounded with the former, or 

 overlooked. Probably the ventral fins may assist 

 its flight. It is not known what ocean or sea it 

 inhabits. 



The great flying fish agrees with the slender 

 one in the great length of its ventral fins, but 

 differs in having a thick body. This fish is near 

 two feet long, the common flying fish not more 

 than eight, nor the slender sort more than six- 

 inches. 



