i66 GEMMEOUS DRAGONET. Class IV. 



among the Uranofccpi : the pupils are of a rich fap- 

 pharine blue, the irides of a fine fiery carbuncle. 



The upper jaw projecls much farther than the 

 lower : the mouth is very wide : the teeth are fmalL 



The peroral fins are round, and of a light- 

 brown color; the ventral placed before them, are 

 very broad, and confift of five branched rays. 



The firft dorfal fin is very fingular, the firft ray 

 beino- fetaceous, and fo long; as to extend almoll 

 to the tail : thofe of the fecond dorfal fins are of a 

 moderate length, except the iaft, which is produ- 

 ced far beyond the others. 



The anus is placed about the middle of the belly ; 

 the anal fin is broad, and the lafb ray the Fongefl. 

 Pontoppidan calls this fpecies the flying fifh : whe- 

 ther it makes ufe of any of its fins to raife itfelf out 

 of the water, as he was informed they did, we can- 

 not pretend to fay. 



The tail is rounded and long, and confifts often 

 rays. 

 Colors. The fide line is flrait : the colors are yellow, 



blue, and white, and make a beautiful appearance 

 when the fifh has been jufl taken. The blue is of 

 an inexprelnble fplendor, the richeft cserulean 

 glowing with a gemmeous brilliancy. The throat 

 is black. The membranes of all the fins extreme- 

 ly thin and delicate. 



Dracunculous 



