normal to its organism is probably the reason that 

 it soon dies when confined in an indoor aquarium. 



9. The natural term of life of the sea-horse is 

 probably a century. 



10. The hippocampids do not, as has been as- 

 serted by some, converse or communicate with one 

 another by means of audible sounds. 



But to suppose that this decalogue or the ampli- 

 fied exposition it represents, contains the entire 

 truth about the sea-horse, would be an error. No 

 record of this curious fish can be complete with- 

 out some reference to those less objective facts 

 which feature it as the most popular ornament of 

 the sea. Nor is it an overstatement to set forth that 

 without a consideration of these subjective facts a 

 conception of the real animal cannot fully be con- 

 veyed. 



For, after all that may be written regarding the 

 ways of the hippocampid, it will continue to main- 

 tain its place in the popular mind, not by reason 

 of its life and habits, however inherently interest- 

 ing these might prove to be, but solely by virtue of 

 its appearance. That it has so wide a popular ap- 

 peal on artistic rather than scientific grounds, is 



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