276 LOPHOBRANCHII. PIPE-FISHES. 



ated. The operculum is large, shaped nearly like a 

 mussel-shell, the surface granulated and marked 

 with radiating striae. The pectoral fin is small, the 

 dorsal pretty high, but the longest rays not equal in 

 height to the depth of the body ; tail well deve- 

 loped, rounded at the extremity, and very like a 

 half-expanded fan. Both sexes are pretty well 

 figured by Pennant in his British Zoology (vol. iii. 

 pi, 26), but under diff«rent names ; the marsupial 

 pouch being indicated in the figure of the male. 

 The singular use of this abdominal bag, however, 

 seems not to have been rightly understood till lately. 

 It is now ascertained that the ova are transferred 

 from the abdomen of the female into this false belly 

 or pouch ; that they become matured there, and the 

 young hatched. At what time the male receives the 

 charge of the ova, and in what precise manner the 

 exchange is effected, are points not exactly known. 

 It further appears, that even after the young make 

 their escape from this receptacle, they are in the 

 habit, for a short time after their birth, of occasion- 

 ally retiring to it. These fishes thus present us with 

 a perfect analogy to marsupial quadrupeds. As in 

 several other instances presented by this class of 

 animals, the Great Pipe-fish begins to breed while 

 yet young, specimens of four inches long, apparently 

 of the preceding year, having been found with full- 

 grown ova. 



This is the most common species of the family, 

 frequenting shallow places, apparently in most parts 

 of our coasts. Mr. Couch says it swims in a singu- 



4 



