GEN. SYGNATHUS. LESSER PIPE-FISH. 277 



lar manner, horizontally or perpendicularly, with 

 the head downwards or upwards, and in every atti- 

 tude of contortion. It is frequently met with in 

 the Firth of Forth, where, as well as in other jjarts 

 of Scotland, it is called the Tangle-Jish^ as it is 

 commonly found lurking under sea- weed, or tangle, 

 as it is called in the north. 



This fish, in common with all the others belong- 

 ing to the family, is of no use either as food or bait, 

 the dry rigid body almost resembling a piece of 

 wood, and being, as Cuvier says, presque sans 

 chair. 



(Sp. 204.) S. Typhle. Deep-nosed or Lesser Pipe- 

 fish. The habits and economy of this species, as far 

 as known, being the same as in that just described, 

 we have little to add to the external marks of dis- 

 tinction as they are stated in our Synopsis. It occurs 

 almost as frequently as S. Acus^ and on the shores 

 of all the three kingdoms. " It is rather rare," says 

 Dr. Parnell, " in the Firth of Forth, although a 

 place apparently favourable for its habits. It fre- 

 quents water from three to four feet deep, where 

 the bottom is of a sandy nature and covered with 

 the smaller kinds of fuci^ among which it prowls 

 about in search of minute aquatic insects. I have 

 taken them in pools, at North Berwick, left by the 

 receding of the tide, but further up the Firth they 

 seem but little known. At Brixham, in the month 

 of September, I saw as many as four dozen taken 

 at one haul of a net ; and I was informed at the 

 same time, by the fishermen, that in the earlier part 



