59. HIPPOCAMPUS. 3 a 5 



wise essentially as in S. californicnse. Nuchal plates somewhat keeled 

 iu var. leptorliynelius ; not keeled iu var. arundinaceum. Coast of Cali- 

 fornia, chiefly south of Point Coucepcion : abundant. 



(Syngnathns le.ptorliynclms Girard, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 1854, 15(> : Syngnathns 

 leptorhtinchus Girard, U. S. Pac. K. R. Surv. Fish. 340: Syngnathus Jcptorhynchux Gill, 

 Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 284: Syngnathm arundinaccus Girard & Gill, 11. cc.,) 



aa. Breast shields covered by loose sldu ; lower jaw iuclnded. (Dcrmalostetlnis* Gill.) 



61. S. pnnctipinne (Gill) J. & G. 



Brown; dorsal fin speckled. Body comparatively robust Snout 

 moderate, a little longer than the rest of the head. Eye large. Occiput 

 with a raised keel ; joint between the occiput and the first dorsal shield 

 more perfect than usual, so that the head can be placed at an angle with 



I 



the body. Greatest depth about equal to length of post-orbital part of 

 head. Skin on breast and anterior ventral plates thin, showing the 

 striation of the bones. Tail twice as long as trunk. Head 8 ; D. 41 ; 

 rings 19+39. L. 12. Sail Diego, Cal. Only the original types known. 



(Dermatostethtis punctipinnis Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 1802, 283.) 



FAMILY LIX. HIPPOCAMPUS. 



(The 8ea Horses.) 



Syngnathoid fishes destitute of caudal and ventral fins, and with the 

 tail prehensile. Form of the body and head singular; in the typical 

 genera the body is compressed, and the head, which is placed nearly 

 at right angles with the axis of the body, is surmounted by a bony 

 crest. These little fishes have thus a remarkably horse-like physiog- 

 nomy, like that of the conventional "knight" at chess. Mouth very 

 small, terminal. Dorsal fin median, of soft rays only; anal fin minute;: 

 pectoral short, with a broad base. Gill-openings very small. Egg-pouch 

 of the male usually at the base of the tail. Genera about 4 ; species 

 about 30, most of them belonging to Hippocampus. Fishes of the open 

 seas of warm regions. They attach themselves by their tails to sea- 

 weed and other floating substances, and are often carried to great dis- 

 tances by currents. 



(SyngnathidcB, group Hippocampina Giiutlier, viii, 194-206.) 



a Body compressed ; occiput witli a narrow bony crest, which is surmounted by a 

 ' ' coronet " ; shields with tubercles or spines HIPPOCAMPUS, 188. 



* Gill, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 1862, 283: type Dermatostethiis punctipinnia GilL 

 (dsp/Lia, skin; 6r(io?, breast.) 



Bull. Nat. Mus. 



