FOURTEEN TELEOSTEAN FISHES AT BEAUFORT, N. C. 
449 
any of the adult specimens at hand taken near the shore. It seems probable, there- 
fore, that this species, on the coast of North Carolina at least, lives at some distance 
(20 miles and more) from the shore. It is judged from the numerous specimens 
secured by the Fish Hawk that this small flyingfish is common off the coast of North 
Carolina during the summer. 
The rate of growth of this fish, its food and feeding habits, its age at maturity, 
its range of flight, and many other things about its life history remain unknown. 
CYPSELURUS FURCATUS (Mitchill). Four-winged flyingfish 
The four-winged flyingfish is known from all warm seas and it occurs on the 
Atlantic coast of the United States as far north as Cape Cod. However, there is no 
published record of its occurrence at Beaufort. The 50 specimens in the present 
collection, with a single exception, were taken off Beaufort by the Fish Hawk during 
July, August, and September, 1914 and 1915, when that vessel was used in carrying 
on investigations from the Beaufort laboratory. Some of the specimens were taken 
near Cape Lookout Lightship, others on the sea-bass (blackfish) ground, and a few 
in the Gulf Stream. A single specimen, about 10 millimeters long, was taken on 
July 20, 1927, about 6 miles from Cape Lookout. This is the only specimen secured 
during the systematic weekly collecting trips conducted from 1927 to 1929 and ex- 
tending from Beaufort Inlet to Cape Lookout and offshore 12 to 15 miles. Neither 
have the adults been secured near the shores nor within the harbor. 
This four- winged flyingfish, when adult, is characterized chiefly by its enlarged 
ventrals as well as pectorals, the short anal with only about nine rays, and by the 
pearly-white spot near the base of the ventrals. Many of the adult characters, ex- 
clusive of the coloration, as pointed out in the descriptions of the young, are developed 
at an early age. The maximum size attained is only about 150 millimeters (6 inches). 
The life historv is little known. 
SPAWNING 
The eggs have not been taken, or at least not recognized. The smallest young 
in the present collection are about 5 millimeters long. Young of this size, as well as 
somewhat larger ones, were taken during July, August, and September. It may be 
concluded, therefore, that spawning off the coast of North Carolina takes place dur- 
ing the summer. Since none of the young were taken very near the shore and the 
majority of them were secured from 20 to 30 miles offshore, it seems probable that 
spawning takes place at some distance from the shores. 
DESCRIPTIONS OF YOUNG 
Specimens 5 millimeters long . — The head is large, robust, and depressed, and the 
body is notably compressed, the shape at this early age being rather strikingly similar 
to that of the adult. However, the head is proportionately somewhat broader and 
more robust, and the body is more strongly compressed. The mouth is very strongly 
oblique to nearly vertical; the eye is relatively very largefand elongate, and the gill 
covers are exceptionally well developed for such a small fish. The fins are all present, 
the caudal and pectorals showing a more-advanced stage of development than the 
other fins. Unfortunately the fins are more or less frayed in our specimens of this 
size, and their exact shape can not be definitely determined and may not be accurately 
represented in the accompanying drawing. The ground color of preserved specimens 
is pale brown , and f he entire fish is dotted with large, black chromatophores. Develop- 
