LEWIS M. ISAACS.
a fish able to leave the water when alarmed or pursued, and sustain itself for several seconds in the air. In tropical seas the flying-fish rise from the water in flocks, or, more properly, shoals, of many thousands at a time, when disturbed by the passing of a ship, or pursued by such foes as the bluefish and albicore. They spring from the crest of a wave, and, darting forward, plunge into another to wet the membrane of the fins, and in this manner continue their flights for several hundred yards, often pur sued by marine birds in the element to which they are driven for protection against the tyrants of their own. The sole motive power is the propulsion obtained by the work of the tail in giving the rushing leap from the water; but the great pectorals act to some extent as supporting air-planes. In all the species be longing to the genus Exoccetus (which is typical of the family Exoccetidce, allied to the sanries), the pectoral fins are very much de veloped, and the superior lobe of the caudal fin shorter; the head and body are invested with large soft scales, and the body has a ridge or carina extending longitudinally along each flank, which gives it somewhat of an angular appearance. The head, when viewed
from the front, is triangular; the eyes and air bladder are very large. Flying fish are inhabit ants of every temperate sea, though abounding in the vicinity of the equator. In length they rarely exceed 13 inches, and are commonly found about eight. The flesh is pleasant. Several species are described by naturalists, some of which have very long fleshy filaments depending from the lower jaw; the use of which is not known. The Exoca'tus volitans, or common flying-fish of the Atlantic, is also known in Pacific waters; and the coast of California is visited by a large species, 18 inches long (E. californscus) called. volador by the Spanish fishermen. About 65 species are contained in this and other genera, among which is Fodiator, with at least one common flying-fish (F. arust), distinguished by sharp ness of its snout. Another sort of flying-fish is the gurnard or sea-robin (q.v.).