1614 Fishes. 



Flying Fish, Exocactus exiliens. The late Mr. Chergwin told me 

 that he had seen several flying-fish in Mount's Bay, and on inquiry of 

 the fishermen, I found their occurrence was not rare. It was some time, 

 however, before I could get an opportunity of seeing any. In the 

 summer of 1845, while about six miles off the shore, I saw many start 

 from the water very high into the air. As they were to the west of 

 our boat, and their course was eastward, I expected I should again 

 have another opportunity of seeing them, and in a very few minutes 

 I was gratified by seeing them close to us. They were pursued by 

 several huge striped bonitos. The enormous pectoral fins, with the 

 large ventral ones, clearly indicated the species to be the exiliens and 

 not the voliians. They rose from the water like an arrow to about 

 ten or twelve feet, and then gradually and glidingly fell into the 

 water again. Their flight was different from what I expected, all the 

 velocity seemed acquired in the water, and gradually decreased as soon 

 as they left it. It was evidently a continuation of the flight through 

 the water, the creature possessed no power over its motions while in 

 the air ; the large pectorals seemed to facilitate their progress upwards 

 and to prevent their sudden dropping downwards, and to serve 

 no other purpose, at least out of the water. The whole flight seemed 

 like an arrow, and the pectoral fins served as the feathers. I have 

 examined the heads of two specimens, taken near Cape Cornwall, 

 both of which are referrible to this species. 



Salmon, Salmo salar. As there are no large rivers in the district of 

 the Land's End, all the fresh-water fish are rare and small. The sal- 

 mon visit Mount's Bay, and all the district from Helford river to 

 the Land's End and St. Ive's Bay during their annual migrations, 

 but they very rarely ascend the rivers. 



The Peal, Salmo trutta. Is occasionally seen I am told, but I 

 have never yet had an opportunity of examining a specimen. 



Common Trout, Salmo fario. Common in the small streams of the 

 district, the waters of which are not impregnated with copper or tin. 



The Palmer Trout is entirely absent. 



R. Q. Couch. 



Penzance. 



