Cavallas and Pampanos 287 
Its colors, golden-blue with deep-blue spots, fade rapidly at 
death, though the extent of this change has been much exag- 
gerated. Similar changes of color occur at death in most bright- 
colored fishes, especially in those with thin scales. The common 
dolphin, or dorado (Coryphena hippurus), is found in all warm 
Fie. 222.—Dolphin or Dorado, Coryphena hippurus Linneus. New York. 
seas Swimming near the surface, as usual in predatory fishes, 
and reaches a length of about six feet. The small dolphin, 
Coryphena equisetis, rarely exceeds 24 feet, and is much more 
rare than the preceding, from which the smaller number of 
dorsal rays (53 instead of 60) best distinguishes it. Young 
dolphins of both species are elongate in form, the crest of the 
head not elevated, the physiognomy thus appearing very differ- 
ent from that of the adult. Gontognathus coryphenoides is an 
extinct dolphin of the Eocene. 
The name dolphin, belonging properly to a group of small 
whales or porpoises, the genus Delphinus, has been unfortu- 
nately used in connection with this very different animal, which 
bears no resemblance to the mammal of the same name. 
Other mackerel-like families not closely related to these 
occur in the warm seas. The Letognathide are small, silvery 
fishes of the East Indies. Lezognathus argentatus (Equula) is 
very common in the bays of Japan, a small silvery fish of mod- 
erate value as food. Gazza minuta, similar, with strong teeth, 
abounds farther south. Lezognathus fasctatuwm is common in 
Polynesia. A fossil species called Parequula albyt occurs in the 
Miocene of Licata. 
The Kurtide are small, short-bodied fishes of the Indian 
seas, with some of the ribs immovably fixed between rings 
