37 i tHE FLYING -FISH,' 



Section XII. 



Genus LIII 'itbs Tlying-Tijlj 



JL HIS ger,u3 comprehends two kinds of fijing-filli, the 

 volitans and evolans of Linticeus ; the former is the nnofl 

 common kind of the winged inhabitants of the fea, 

 Hardlj any inflance occurs of either kind being 

 found in the BritiJ]} feas f : They are freonent in the 

 Mediterrcinecm, and warmer latitudes in the Atlantic, 

 where they are continually hunted by the Dorados while 

 they continue in their own element ; and, as often as 

 they endeavour to efcape them by afcending to the air, 

 they become the viftims of the gull or the albatrofs ; or 

 are by them again forced back into the mouth of their 

 purfuers below, who have ftiil their eyes fixed upon them, 

 and keep pace with their flight. Tlius harrailed by in- 

 veterate enemies in both elements, they often fall down 

 upon the decks of fliips as they pafs, and feem to yield 

 themfelves up to man as the more merciful deftrcyer. 



In fize, the flying- full nearly rekmbles the mackrel, 

 only of a longer and more flender form : if the wings are 

 taken away, it bears a ilrong fimilaricy to the mullet : 



The 



• Exocsetus VclJtans, Lin. Syft. Mugil Alatus, Pvor.J. 

 t Vide Pennant's Brit. Zool. gen, 38. 



