268 PISCES. 



appendages that decorate various parts of its body, presents a 

 most singular appearance: it is the Syngnathus foliatus, Shaw, 

 Gen. Zool., V, ii, pi. I8O5 Lacep., Ann. du Mus. IV, pi. 58, f. 

 3. The 



SoLENosTOMus,(l) Seb. and Lacep. 



Differs from Syngnathus in being furnished with very large ven- 

 trals behind the pectorals, united with each other and with the trunk, 

 that form a kind of apron, which, like the pouch of the Syngnathi, 

 serves to retain the ova. There is a dorsal with few, but elevated 

 rays near the nape; another very small one on the origin of the tail, 

 and a large pointed caudal; otherwise very similar to Hippocampus. 

 But a single species, the Fistularia paradoxa, Pall., Spic, 

 VIII, iv, 6, is known; it inhabits the Indian Ocean. 



Pegasus^ Lin. 



A salient snout, formed as in the preceding divisions, but the mouth, 

 instead of being at its extremity, is under its base; it reminds us, by 

 its protractility, of that of a Sturgeon, but is composed of the same 

 bones as in ordinary fishes. The body is mailed like that of a Hip- 

 pocampus and Solenostomus, but the trunk is broad and depressed, 

 the branchial apertures are on the side, and there are two distinct 

 ventrals behind the pectorals, which are frequently large, whence 

 the name of the genus. The dorsal and anal are opposite to each 

 other. The intestine being lodged in a cavity wider and shorter 

 than that of the Syngnathi, has two or three flexures. 

 Some species are found in the Indian Ocean. (2) 



ORDER VI. 



PLECTOGNATHI. 



We have now passed from tlie preceding five orders of bony 

 or fibrous fishes, with free and complete jaws, to the sixth, 



(1 ) Solenostomus, mouth like a tube, from a-mxiiv, tube, and ?-o/Act, mouth. 



(2) Pegasus draco, L., BL, 209; Pegas. nataiis, Bl,, 121; Pf^. volans, L.; 

 P. laternarius, Cuv., whose snout is furnished with six longitudinal rows of den- 

 tations. 



