TELEOSTS. 31 



ical. On our east coast are found the cunner and tautog; 

 on the Pacific occurs a group of surf -fishes (Embiotocidae), 

 remarkable for bringing forth living young. 



ORDER V. PLECTOGNATHI. 



In this group of peculiar forms, almost all of which are 

 marine, the upper jaws are immovably united to the skull. 



FIG. 12. Sea-horse < Hippocampus 'heptagonus) . After Goode. 



Some are naked, others have the skin covered with spines 

 or bony plates. The spiny forms (swellfish) can erect the 

 spines by swelling out the body, and thus gain additional 

 protection. In the trunk-fishes the bony plates unite to 



