416 FISHES. 



a point. In colour this fish, which grows to a length of at 



least 12 inches, is dark brown with lighter spots. It is 



^ ^ found on most parts of our coasts, being 



Broad- . ^ •.-, ^i 



nosed confused m some localities with the young 



Pipe-fish. Qf tijg garfish. 



Greater PijDe-fish. — A striped, deep-water species. 



The green, white-lined Straight-nosed Pipe-fish of about 



the same size is also found round our coasts, though in 



„, . ^. somewhat deeper water than the last. The 

 Straiglit- ^ . . . , 



nosed tail of this species is pointed, and the male 



Pipe-fish. lacks the egg-pouch found in the last. 



The largest of British Pipe-fishes, the Sea-adder, grows 



to a length of over 2 feet, and is common in the 



maioritv of our estuaries, where it is accused 

 Snake- o j > 



Pipe-fish of "stinging." Certainly, those who have 



or Sea- never seen a real snake might possibly mistake 



this for one — hence, no doubt, the supersti- 

 tion. In colour this harmless fish is dark brown with 

 bluish-white bands and a purplish stripe on the face. The 

 male has no pouch, but retains the eggs in a fold of skin. 



In the smallest of all, the Worm Pipe-fish, we have a 

 species not exceeding a length of 9 inches, and in colour 

 ^^Torm of a dark green or brown, with white lines 



Pipe-fish. and spots. Like the rest, it appears generally 

 distributed on our coasts. According to Couch, this species 

 keeps almost entirely to the ground. 



A familiar object in the aquarium, the remarkable Sea- 

 horse occurs sparingly on all our coasts. It has a mailed 

 body, with lateral ridges, also a tubular snout 

 and the family egg-pouch. The pointed tail 

 is prehensile, and the sea-horse is fond of winding it round 

 stems of weed or other support. The body, which is 

 covered with spines, is black, with white dots and bands ; 

 and the greatest length of the species is about 4 inches. 



