170 PIPE-FISHES REJECTED AS FOOD IN AQUARIA. 



depressions which exist on the sm-face of the abdomen. 

 Mr. Yarrell says that he found specimens, taken in 

 August, which contained one egg, of the size and colour 

 of a mustard-seed, lodged in each cup-like cell. The 

 females were not provided with these receptacles. 



The snake pipe-fish is often taken in the whitebait 

 nets in the Thames, and is also found in the Severn, as 

 far as NeTvniham. The young of this fish is often eaten 

 among ordinarj^ whitebait. I have often found them 

 in my plate at dinner-parties and at clubs. They are 

 very good eating. A plate of whitebait often forms an 

 ichthyological study. 



The Worm Pipe-fish (Sijngnathus lumhriciformis) is 

 the smallest of the British species, and is taken on 

 various parts of the coast. It does not exceed five or 

 five and a half inches in length. It has no fin, except 

 a small one on the back. The nose is very short, and 

 tm-ned upwards. The colour of the body, like that of 

 the preceding species, is olive-green. . ''It seems to pass 

 through a kind of metamorphosis when young ; the 

 whole of the tail, w^hen it escapes from the egg, being 

 enveloped in a thin membrane, and small pectoral fins 

 are visible ; both of which, after a time, disappear." 

 Hence, it would seem that these fish undergo something 

 of the same process as tadpoles. 



In his "Dictionnaire des Peches," M. De La Blanchere 

 remarks : " That it is probable that these fish possess 

 a peculiar smell or taste inappreciable to our senses, 

 but discovered immediately by fishes. When chopped 

 up with other fishes, and given as food to aquarium 

 fishes, such as tm-bots, gurnards, &c., if by chance the 

 bits are swallowed, they are immediate^ rejected with 

 apparent disgust." 



