Flying-fish, Exocoetus Volitans
1803
Edward Donovan’s 1803 illustration of the Exocoetus Volitans captures a flying fish in a moment of glorious confusion—is it a fish or a bird? With its massive, wing-like fins spread wide, the creature glides just above the waves, seemingly racing a flock of swallows in the sky. The delicate coloring brings out the iridescent blue of the scales against the dark ocean. The text at the bottom reveals it was published in London on May 1st, 1803, making it a charming snapshot of early scientific illustration.
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