144 



OCEANIC FLYING-FISH. 



pearing in small shoals. Instances are not infre- 

 quent' of its falling into ships during the declilie of 

 its flight. It is considered as an agreeable fish for 

 the tablC;, and by some is even preferred to the 

 Herring. The general height at which it is ob- 

 served to exercise its flight is about three feet 

 above the surface of the water. 



OCEANIC FLYING-FiSH. 



Exocoetus Evolans. E. argenteus, dorso suhfusco, pinnis vent' 



ralibus ante ??iedium abdominis, 

 Silveiy-Flying-Fish, with brownish back^ and ventral fins 



situated before the middle of the abdomen, 

 Exocoetus evolans. £. abdomine tereti. Lin, Syst, Nat. p. 



521. 



Exocoetus volitans. E. abdomine utrinque carinato* Lin. Syst. 

 Nat. p. 520. 



Exocoetus pinnis ventralibus parvis prope pectus. Block, t. 3QS, 



This species has so great a general resemblance 

 with the preceding as to be easily mistaken by a 

 common observer for the same fish. An accurate 

 view however will inform the spectator that the 

 body is somewhat longer or more slender in pro- 

 portion^ and the head less sloping ; but the princi- 

 pal difference consists in the position and size of 

 the ventral fins, which instead of being placed, as 

 in the preceding species, near the anal fin, are, on 

 the contrary, seated at no great distance from the 

 pectoral ones : they are also much smaller and of a 

 different shape, being of a slightly lunated form. 

 This species is of a bright silver-colour, gradually 



