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3 
A VACATION TRIP TO BRAZIL. 643 
A word about the flying-fish. Of these there are many 
different kinds, not only belonging to different genera, but 
different families of fishes. The common flying-fish of 
the Atlantic belongs to the genus Hxocetus, a name given 
to the Mediterranean species by Aristotle, because it was 
currently believed by the ancients that the fish, spending 
the day in the water, flew out at night and slept ashore, 
whence the name which signifies a sleeper out. The com- 
mon flying-fish somewhat resembles a pickerel, with a 
squarish head and body; but its pectoral or forefins are 
very long, and capable of being expanded like broad 
wings. The abdominal, or ventral fins, are rather large 
and irregularly fan-shaped. In the water the fish swims, 
as most other fish do, with the tail, the long fins being 
folded against the body. But, not satisfied with swim- 
ming, it seeks to imitate the birds, and ever and anon it 
leaps into the air, and takes short flights, sustained on its 
broad pectoral fins. Ordinarily the fish are seen to rise 
from the water near the ship, and glide off diagonally, 
almost in the direction she is going, and very often right 
against the wind. They rise at a very low angle, and 
keep close to the water. On rising, the tail is seen to 
quiver, sometimes beating the water for several yards, 
leaving a wake behind, and at the same time there is a 
very perceptible tremulous motion of the fins; but when: 
once fairly in flight, the fins, both pectoral and ventral, 
are fully extended. The latter are held obliquely down- 
_ wards, while the position of the former seems to vary- 
very considerably. Usually the forefins are inclined a 
little upward, while the body is carried with the tail a 
little lower than the head. If there is a heavy sea running, 
_ the fish is seen to rise and fall over every wave without 
_ touching the water, and this is done apparently with as 
