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MALACOPTERYGII. SYNGNATHID.E. 



presented by these curious fishes to the Marsu- 

 pial MammaKa will doubtless occur to our 

 readers. 



One hundred species are now known to belong 

 to this Family, all of which are marine : they 

 are scattered over the seas and oceans of both 

 hemispheres. Seven species are recognised as 

 British. Two Sub-families are indicated, which 

 are thus distinguished : 



1. Pegasina. In these the body is depressed, 

 and broad ; the snout lengthened and tubular, 

 but the mouth is placed beneath, and is moveable. 



The pectorals are very large, and the ventrals are 

 composed each of a single slender ray. The 

 species inhabit the tropical seas of the eastern 

 hemisphere. 



2. Syngnathina. The head and body are slen- 

 der and compressed ; the mouth opens upward 

 at the extremity of the snout ; the ventrals are 



