THE -KITE PISH. 275 



Description Where found. 



THE KITE FISH. 



THIS has a kind of resemblance to the flying 

 fish. The head is square; two strong spines at 

 the hinder part gill cover ending in a long strong 

 spine ; the body roundish and slender ; on the scales 

 run lengthwise a scalloped thin ridge ; between 

 the dorsal fins a single short spine; the ventral fins 

 very large, reaching to the tail ; four appendages 

 under the throat, united in a web; the tail forked; 

 and its length one foot and a half. When fresh 

 taken, the back is either a light or dusky red; the 

 belly white, and the ventral fins prettily spotted. 



The kite fish inhabits the Atlantic and Indian 

 oceans, and the Mediterranean sea. When pur-, 

 sued by the dorado, &c. it quits the water, and 

 by means of its ventral fins flies in the air about 

 a stone's cast. 



It is common in the fish markets of Italy, 

 Sicily, and Malta. 



2 M 3 



