FLYING-FISH. 
5 
guishable from those next them, and the uppermost ray was the 
longest. Each ventral fin consisted of six rays, and was situated 
immediately behind the insertion of the pectoral fin. The dorsal 
fin, the rays of which were so indistinct that I cannot venture to 
state their number, had its origin about two-thirds down the back. 
The caudal fin was an inch long, and terminated at the setting on 
of the tail. 
From the above description, it will appear that my specimen 
resembled the Exocoetus Volitans in the position of the ventral fins, 
but differed from it in colour, which in the latter is brownish red on 
the back. It agreed with Exocoetus Exiliens and Mesogaster, in its 
general colour, but differed from them in the position of its ventral 
fins. It was distinguished from them all by the position of its dorsal 
fins. Should these differences be considered sufficient to establish 
it as a new species, I would propose to call it Exocoetus * Splendens, 
from the brilliancy of its colours. 
The species which I have just described is furnished with as ample 
means of supporting itself in air as any of its congeners. Its air- 
bladder reaches from the pharyngeal bones along the spine to the 
extremity of its body, occupying eight-tenths of its whole length. The 
widest part of the air-bladder is situated immediately in front of the 
pectoral fins, and it tapers gradually towards the tail. It is equal in 
bulk to about four-tenths of the whole fish. 
A particular purpose seems to be answered by the greater dimen- 
sion of the air-bladder near the head, namely, the compensation of the 
great gravity of the animal at this part in consequence of its breadth. 
This compensation is necessary to the support of the animal’s body in 
the air in a favourable position for flight, situation of the pec- 
toral fins before the centre of gravity in this, as in other flying-fish, 
also tends to elevate the head, as remarked by Lacepede. T 
* If the white spots on its head be peculiar, Exocoetus Maculatus would be a better 
name. 
f Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, vol. v. p. 406. Lacepede has made the situation of 
