408 REPORT OF THE 



Family EXOCETIDiE. Flying Fishes. 



84. Flying Fish (^Exoccetus volitans Linnaeus). 



This Flying Fish is the species described by Mitchill and DeKay under the name 

 of the New York Flying Fish. Mitchill had a specimen which was taken in a 

 seine near New York. The length of the fish was 12 inches. 



Dr. Smith says this fish is common some years. At Woods Hole, Mass., it is 

 usually scarce. It is taken in traps at Vineyard Sound, and a few have been caught 

 in Great Harbor. Small fish, from i^ to 4 inches long, are abundant in the harbor 

 in the latter part of September and the first of October. Even the smallest speci- 

 mens have been observed to "fly" a distance of 10 feet. 



85. Bearded Flying Fish {Cypsilums heterurus Rafinesque). 



The Bearded Flying Fish is described and figured by Mitchill in Vol. i. Transac- 

 tions, Literary and Philosophical Society, N. Y., page z^48, plate V, figure i. 



This fish has a long black filament depending from the chin with occasionally a 

 shorter one on each side. The filament disappears with age. 



This species inhabits the Atlantic Ocean and is generally common southward on 

 both coasts, straying north in summer to England and Newfoundland. Mitchill's 

 examples were 5 to 6 inches long, and the length of the barbel was 2^ inches. The 

 adult size is 15 inches. 



86. Double-Bearded Flying Fish {Cypsilurus furcatus Mitchill). 



The Double-Bearded Flying Fish is described by Mitchill in the work cited, page 

 449, plate V, figure 2. DeKay did not know either of the Bearded Flying Fishes and 

 borrowed his accounts from Mitchill and others. 



This is a small species, about 6 inches long, frequenting warm seas north to 

 Cape Cod and to the Mediterranean. Specimens have been taken at Newport, R. L 

 The barbels vary in size and number. 



87. Blunt-snouted Flying Fish {Cypsilurus gibbifrons C. & V.). 



This is a small fish of the Atlantic Ocean, the length of the described specimens 

 being 8 inches. One example was caught at Newport, Rhode Island, by Samuel 

 Powell. Another is in the Museum of Natural History at Paris. 



