£14 BRASILIAN CORYPHENE. 



vigorous nature, swims with great rapidity, is 

 extremely voracious, and is observed to be per- 

 petually engaged in the pursuit of the smaller 

 fishes : it is considered as one of the most cruel 

 persecutors of the flying-fish (Exocoetus), which, 

 in order to avoid its pursuit, avails itself of its 

 power of temporary flight, or rather of springing 

 at once to a considerable distance over the surface 

 of the water ; in which action however it is often 

 observed to fall a prey to some of the larger gulls, 

 who seize it during its passage. The flesh of the 

 Coryphene is said to be excellent, and it is there- 

 fore often taken both by the line and net. It is 

 observed to frequent the shores in spring and 

 autumn in order to deposit its spawn, and some- 

 times approaches the mouths of the large rivers : 

 the young are said to be of uncommonly quick 

 growth, as is proved from observations made on 

 such as have been kept in reservoirs for any length 

 of time. 



BRASILIAN CORYPHENE. 



Coryphaena Equiselis. C. viridUaurea, cauda bifurca, radik 

 dorsalibus quinquaginta tribus. 



Golden-green Coryphene, with forked tail, and fifty-three rays 

 in the dorsal fin. 



Coryphaena Equiselis. C. cauda bifurca, radiis dorsalibus quin- 

 quaginta tribus, Lin* Syst. Nat. p. 44?. 



Guaracapema. Marcgr. bras. p. 160. 



This species is so nearly allied to the former that 

 it has been sometimes considered rather as a variety 



