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XXXV. A Defer iption of the Exoccetus Volitans, or Fly- 
ing Filh. By Thomas Brown, Surgeon , near Glafgow. 
Communicated by Dr. Fothergill, F . R. S. 
Read June 4, r | beft reprefentation lean give of the 
flying fifh is in the accompanying 
{ketch, drawn from one of the middling lize, about nine 
inches long, and full four round at the thickeft part^k 
From the largenefs of the head, and the body being 
neither prominent above or on the lides, the eyes are 
fituated in fuch manner as to difeover their danger or 
prey almoft all around them; but when they are pulhed 
out of their fockets, which the filh is capable of doing 
confiderably, their fphere of vifion is greatly increafed. 
The fkin is uncommonly firm for the fize of the ani- 
mal, and their feales large and thick. As they have no 
membrane to lhade the eye, they are not able to cover 
the pupil in any of its motions. 
The wing is no other than a large pedtoral fin, com- 
pofed of feven or eight ribs or pinions, the largeft of 
which being uppermoft, reaches almoft to the tail, the 
(«) The naked out-line lhows the form of the mouth when opened. 
reft 
