4 
Exocetus volitans. Common Flying Fifo. Head fliort and 
thick: eyes very large: body thick and rather fliort: back broad, 
and of a dark colour: Tides and belly filvery white: fcales pretty 
large : a ridge on each fide the belly: under fork of the tail much 
longer than the upper. D. 13. P. 17. V. 6. A. 14. 
According to Linn^us, this is the fpecies met with all over 
the ocean, in warm latitudes. This fifli being perfecuted by the 
Tunny, Bonnet-fifli, Gold-filh, &c. are drove to feek fhelter in the 
air, (an unnatural element for fifli); where, by means of their large 
pedtoral fins, they fly as light and fwift as a bird, the diflance of a 
gun fhot, or as long as the fins continue moift. But here alfo 
new enemies await them; for they become the prey or the Tro¬ 
phic-bird, Boby, Man of War-bird, &c. and when fpent, fre¬ 
quently fall on the decks of veffels. 
