FAMILY ESOCIDiE — EXOCETUS. 231 



THE SINGLE-BEARDED FLYING-FISH. 



ExOCETUS COMATUS. 



PLATE XXXVI. FIG. 115. 



E. comnlrts. The Single-bearded Flying-fish. Mitchill, Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y. Vol. 1, p. 448, pi. 5, fig. 1. 

 B. appendiculatui. Wood, Journal Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 4, p. 283, pi. 17, fig. 2. 



Characteristics. A long black cirrus depending from the chin, with occasionally a shorter one 

 on each side. Length five to six inches. 



Description. Head trihedral, depressed above, declivous. Body covered with robust deci- 

 duous scales. Snout somewhat obtuse ; lateral line straight ; mouth small; a blackish cirrus 

 2" 5 long, depending from the chin. Dorsal with its anterior portion slightly elevated ; tips of 

 the pectorals extend to t!ic end of the dorsal fin. Ventrals under the dorsal, and extend 

 towards the end of the anal. Caudal furcate ; upper lobe shortest. 



Color. Above brown ; beneath wiiite. 



Length, 5"0. 



Fin rays, D. 1 1 or 12 ; P. 13 ; V. 6 ; A. 7 ; C. 19. 



On the authority of Cuvier, I have united the species above cited. 

 THE DOUBLE-BEARDED FLYING-FISH. 



ExOCETUS FORCATUS. 



Double-bearded Flying-fish, E.furcatus. MiTCHILL, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. Vol. 1, p. 449, pi. 5, fig. 2. 

 E.nuttallii? Lesoeue, Ac. Sciences, Vol.2, p. 10, pi. 4, fig. 1 (young). 



Characteristics. Abdomen with a series of carinated scales. Two cirri, or laciniated appen- 

 dages, to the lower jaw. Length tliree inches. 



Description. Eyes large. Ventral fins very long, and placed about two-thirds of the dis- 

 tance between the pectorals and the vent. Dorsal and anal large and truncated. Scales 

 small, adherent. 



Color. Bluish above ; silvery on the sides. Pectorals and ventrals with brown bands. 



Length, 3-0. 



Fin rays, D. 15 ; V. 10 ; A. 8 ; C. 17. 



The descriptions of both the above cited authors are very incomplete, but I believe there 

 can be Htlle doubt of the identity of the species. The mesogaster, cited by Mitchill, is very 

 doubtful, and certainly has not been found on our northern coast as far as I am acquainted. 

 The fasciatus of Lesueur (Ac. Sc. Vol. 4, p. 9), observed near the Gulf of Mexico, I am 

 disposed to refer to the eociliens of Bloch. The bearded flying-fish have been very properly 

 united into a distinct group, under the name of Cyprilurus, by some recent writers. 



