25S The Irish Nafnralist. [November 



characters of A. silus. Excellent figures of both species are 

 given by Smitt in Hist. Scand. Fish., ed. 2, ii., pp. 913, 9:5. 

 The Argentine of Pennant ('* Brit. Zool.," vol. iii., p. 432), and 

 Thompson (" Nat. Hist. Ireland," vol. iv., p. 175), is really a 

 Scopeloid, Maicrolicus Pennantii^ Walb. 



Syngnathid^. 



Syngnatlnis rostellaiiis, Nilss. The Lesser Pipe-fish. 



Until quite recently it has been generally considered that 

 only one species of Syngnathiis existed in British waters, 

 although it was well known that certain individuals became 

 sexually mature at a very small size, and were characterised 

 by an unusually small number of bony rings (cf. GUnther, 

 "Catalogue," vol. viii., p. 159). It has now been shown by 

 Smitt {op. cif., p. 672), and by Duncker {Journ. M. B. Assoc, 

 n.s., vol. v., 1898, p. 175), that the differences are sufficiently 

 constant to entitle the two forms to specific separation. 6*. acus, 

 the larger species, has a total number of 62 to 66 bony rings, 

 of which 19 to 22 belong to the body. In vS. rostellatus the 

 total is 52 to 56, 13 to 17 belonging to the body. This dis- 

 tinction is available from the stage at which the individual 

 leaves the brood-pouch of the male parent, and the snout is 

 always relatively shorter in ^S*. rostellatus. 



The prevailing confusion must be held responsible for the 

 absence of 6*. rostellatus from Irish records, since the species 

 is probably common enough, as in England. In the national 

 collection at Dublin I find a specimen from Portrush, pre- 

 sented by Mr. Ogilb)^ as well as several taken by mj^self on 

 the west coast during the Royal Dublin Society's survey. At 

 present the latter bear no detailed label of locality. 



Leinster House, Dublin. 



