SUPPLEMENT 



ON THE 



ORDERS LOPHOBRANCHII AND PLECTOGNATHI. 



These two orders we blend together in our supplementary 

 remarks, as the first is so very short, and affords so few 

 materials for observation. 



The name Syngnathus, which was bestowed by Artedi 

 on its first genus, is derived from the Greek words ow and 

 yvaBoQ, and indicates a union of the jaws. 



The Syngnathus typhle is little more than a foot or eighteen 

 inches in length, and the fins are grey, and very small. It 

 inhabits the Atlantic and Mediterranean, where it has been 

 anciently observed, since Aristotle and Pliny have mentioned 

 it and spoken of its habits. It also frequents, in summer, 

 though rarely, the region of the Algae, on the coasts of the 

 maritime Alps, and is very much multiplied along the shores 

 of Egypt, between Aboukir and Alexandria. It appears that 

 it is also to be met with in the north sea and in the Baltic. 



It is not eaten in consequence of its having very little flesh, 

 and is merely employed as a bait in fishing. It feeds only on 

 worms, small mollusca, and the eggs of fishes. 



The generation of the Syngnathi has this peculiarity, that 

 the eggs slip into, and are disclosed in a pouch, which is 



