2 5 g THE FLYING GURNARD. 



ashamed of the more lowly society in which they were born, and aspire to ascend to 

 an elevated condition for which they are not fitted by nature. 



While passing through the air, the Flying Gurnard is able slightly to change its 

 direction, but cannot prolong its flight, by flapping its finny wings. In fact, its eleva- 

 tion into the air may be readily imitated by throwing an oyster shell in a horizontal 

 direction, taking care to throw it in such a manner that the concavity is downwards 

 and the convexity upwards. The flight is closely analogous to that of the flying squir- 

 rels, rats, and mice among mammalia, and of the flying dragon among reptiles. 





FLYING GURNARD. -Dactfloptcrus volttaas. INDIAN PLYING GURNARD.-Dactf /opfcrus orleotmlls. 



The COMMON FLYING GURNARD is brown above, passing into a beautiful rose-color 

 below. The fins are black, variegated with blue spots, and on the tail fin the spots 

 run together so as to resemble continuous bands. Its length varies from ten to fifteen 

 inches. It is a native of the Mediterranean and warmer parts of the Atlantic, and in 

 many parts of those seas is very common. 



THE second species, the INDIAN FLYING GURNARD, is found throughout the Indian 

 Ocean and Archipelago, and on account of its habits, its singular and striking form, 



