FISHES. 175 



shores, and extends as far northward as southern California, where, however, it does 

 not appear to be very common. The Semiramphus unifasciatus is of considerable 

 economical importance, being a rather savory fish, and is the object of jjursuit, espe- 

 cially by the blue-fish. 



The genus JEuleptorhamphus is composed of species with a very slender body, long 

 pectorals, and short ventrals. The species are pelagic, and inhabit the open seas ; but 

 one species, JE. lo?igirostris, has several times been caught along the Atlantic coast. 



The flying-fishes proper, forming the sub-family of Exocoetihes, are distinguished 

 by the development of the pectorals, which are elongated and capable of considerable 

 horizontal extension, so that the fish is buoyed up in the air, which it reaches by vig- 

 orous movements of its stout tail and caudal fin ; the fin having a somewhat enlarged 

 under lobe, considerably longer than the upper. By means of this disposition the up- 

 ward impulse is accentuated, and the fish thereby enabled, and more effectively, to 

 jump out of the water. The species of the family are pelagic, and representatives 

 are found in almost all the tropical and warm seas. They associate together in schools 

 of considerable size. The aerial flight is not strictly entitled to the name, for the pec- 

 toral fins are not used in active progression, but are simply employed as parachutes, to 

 sustain the body in the air, and to diminish the tendency to obey the law of gravita- 

 tion. The flns are, nevertheless, more or less vibrated, but it is rather by an opposi- 

 tion to the air than by the volition of the animal. Emergence from the water is 

 effected almost solely by the well-developed caudal fin, and especially by the extension 

 of its lower lobe. Contradictory statements have been made as to the rate and 

 length of flight of flying-fishes. According to Pi'ofessor Jordan, the flying-fish of 

 southern California (Meocwtus calif orniensis) " flies for a distance of sometimes nearly a 

 quarter of a mile, usually not rising more than three or four feet. Its motions in the 

 water are extremely rapid, and its motive power is certainly the movement of its 

 powerful tail in the water. On rising from the water, the movements of the tail are 

 continued for some seconds until the whole body is out of the water. While the tail 

 is in motion, the pectorals are in a state of very rapid vibration, and the ventrals are 

 folded. When the action of the tail ceases, the pectorals and ventrals are spread, and, 

 as far as we can see, held at rest. When the fish begins to fall, the tail touches the 

 water, and the motion of the pectorals recommences, and it is enabled to resume its 

 flight, which it finally finishes by falling into the water with a splash. When on the 

 wing it resembles a large dragon-fly. The motion is very swift; at first it is in a 

 straight line, but this becomes deflected to a curve, the pectoral on the inner side 

 of the arc being bent downward. It is able, to some extent, to turn its course to 

 shy off from a vessel. The motion seems to have no reference to the direction of 

 the wind." 



Ten species of flying-fishes have been observed off the North American coast ; no 

 less than nine have been taken along the eastern {Exocoetus exiliens, E. rondeletii, E. 

 vinciguerrce, E. volitans, E. heterurus, E. furcatus, E. gibbifrons, Sdlocypselus 

 evolans, and J'arexocoetus mesogaster), but on the Pacific coast only one (the Exocoe- 

 tus californiensis) has hitherto, been secured. The Californian species is noteworthy 

 as being one of the largest — if not actually the largest — of the family; it ordinarily 

 attains a length of about sixteen or seventeen inches. 



The genus Fodiator, very recently established, is distinguished for the sharp pro- 

 longation of the lower jaw, and is to some extent intermediate between the flying- 

 fishes and the half-beaks, or Hemirhamphines, 



