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A DESCRIPTION OF 
THE FLYING FISH OF THE OCEAN. 
(Exocetus volitans.) 
THIS fish has a slender body, a projecting under-lip, and 
very large and prominent eyes. The ventral fins are very 
small, but the fins on the back are so long and wide, as to 
answer the purpose of wings, and aided by them, the fish 
is enabled to rise out of the water, and support itself 
in the air. It must not be supposed, however, that the 
Flying-fish can soar like a bird ; on the contrary, it can 
only spring from the water to a considerable height, 
(sometimes as much as twenty feet,) and fly about a hun- 
dred and fifty, or two hundred yards ; most commonly, 
however, it does not rise above two or three feet from the 
water, and remains fluttering over the surface for about a 
