The natural history of fishes, amphibians, & reptiles, or monocardian animals . between them ; although inone the teeth are highly developed, while in the otherthey are almost or altogether wanting. (250.) TheExoceti, or flying fish (Exoc, evolans Linn.,fig. 62.), however, are chiefly remarkable for the enormousdevelopment of their pectoral fins, by the aid of which theyare sustained in the air during a short time—when theyhave more the appearance of birds than of fish ; so that if * Esox belone Linn. The impropriety of calling this group by such aname as belone, need not be pointed out. M. Cu
The natural history of fishes, amphibians, & reptiles, or monocardian animals . between them ; although inone the teeth are highly developed, while in the otherthey are almost or altogether wanting. (250.) TheExoceti, or flying fish (Exoc, evolans Linn.,fig. 62.), however, are chiefly remarkable for the enormousdevelopment of their pectoral fins, by the aid of which theyare sustained in the air during a short time—when theyhave more the appearance of birds than of fish ; so that if * Esox belone Linn. The impropriety of calling this group by such aname as belone, need not be pointed out. M. Cuviers names are ingeneral so well chosen, and so classically constructed, that we always feelrepugnance in proposing to substitute others for the very few which arefaulty. In the present case, however, as in that of Laurida, M. Cuviersnames have not even the claim of priority, for Ramphistoma was proposedseven years before that of Belone. THE FLYING FISH. 297 we have birds which swim, these are fishes which fly. Agreat deal more has been said and written on this interest-. ing subject than it would be necessary to repeat, but for thepurpose of rectifying error ; and having had numerousopportunities of witnessing these fishes in their nativeseas, what we shall now state will be the result of per-sonal observation. It has been said, indeed, that thename of flying fish, given to this group, is an error, be-cause they only leap into the air, where they have notthe power of sustaining themselves at will; but this is amere quibble. An animal which can make its way inthe air, in the general acceptation of the word, certainlyflies, although that flight is not sustained by the motionof the members, and ceases when there is no longerpower for continuing the exertion. The idea that thispower ceases when the membrane which connects thepectoral rays is dry, is very possible, but we do notthink it can be determined as a fact. Thirty seconds isthe longest time absolutely mentioned for these
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