CONCLUSION. 521 



of the boat, they do not swim away ; but, if the 

 parent-fish be restored to his native element, will 

 again enter the well-known refuge, as there only being 

 assured of safety and protection. 



In other species of Pipe- fish, such as the Syngnathus 

 Ophidian, neither male nor female possesses an abdo- 

 minal pouch ; but nevertheless the ova, after being 

 deposited by the female, are carried about for a time 

 by the male in separate hemispheric depressions on 

 the external surface of the abdomen, until they are 

 hatched. 



And now we must conclude our pleasing task ; but, 

 ere we say farewell to the frail glass and mimic ma- 

 sonry, the petty theatre in which we have endea- 

 voured to display so many perishable wonders, let us 

 pause awhile, if but to take a parting glance at the 



amazing scene. 



These humble forms of life, though each of them 

 might well require a volume to elucidate its history, 

 were, most of them, but a few years ago, almost un- 

 known even to those whose study is to search out 

 Nature's works. Let not the reader, then, suppose 

 the mine exhausted, or that nothing now remains to 

 lure attention or reward research ; the wonder is, how 

 little has been done ; how few the labourers that have 

 toiled in such an ample field ; or, should we rather 

 say, have left on record what they have observed ? 



It has often occurred to us, that one very important 

 cause of this paucity of original observation is to be 

 ascribed to a feeling of diffidence, natural enough in 



