HIPPOCAMPUS. oGo 



Like some of the Pipefishes, they seek for some floating 

 object round which to entwine the hindmost portion of their 

 body by way of support, while the upper part remains i'ree, 

 and the head bent, with the lively eyes directed everywhere, 

 singly or together, in search of food, towards which they st^er 

 their support by joint action of the dorsal and pectoral fins. 

 It was observed also that the under part of the cheeks was 

 used when it was desired to obtain a new support, so that the 

 tail might entwine itself afresh. Mr. Thompson remarks that 

 two very small examples were taken from the stomach of a 

 small Cod. 



Contrary to our usual custom, and for want of a fresh 

 specimen, the description and figure we give of this fish are 

 from a dried example from the Mediterranean. The absolute 

 length a little short of six inches; the body compressed, deep, 

 the depth ending at the vent, and from thence tapering to a 

 slender termination. The snout in front of the eves slender, 

 and with the mouth shaped as in the Pipefishes; teeth in the 

 jaws discernible; eye large; head compressed; gill-covers long, 

 opening of the gills high and small; the head rising posteriorly 

 into a crest, with bony elevations, which are highest above 

 the gill-covers; a narrow depression between the eyes. Seven 

 spinous ridges along the body to the dorsal fin and vent, of 

 which a pair run parallel along the ridge of the back, where 

 the spines are the most prominent, behind the dorsal fin 

 tapering and square. There are twelve circular ridges, each 

 having a spine where it joins the longitudinal ridges; on the 

 square portion of the body thirty-two circular ridges. The 

 pectoral fins are close to the head, and Willoughby compares 

 their appearance to ears; the dorsal fin about the middle of 

 the body; the head bent and the caudal portion curved even 

 when alive. Willoughby says that the proper colour is a 

 dull green, darker on the hindmost part, but after death it 

 becomes dark brown. 



