GEN. HIPPOCAMPUS. SEA-HORSE. 281 



of the Continent in considerable plenty, and are 

 often kept in cabinets of miscellaneous curiosities, 

 in a dry state (their structure rendering them of 

 easy preservation), owing to the singularity of their 

 form. They may indeed be examined either dead 

 or alive without it being conjectured that they be- 

 long to the class of fishes. The shape and disposi- 

 tion of the plates on the tail are such as to admit of 

 it being easily curved inwards, and it is accordingly 

 used as a prehensile instrument, the animal twist- 

 ing it round the stems of marine plants, and waiting 

 in that position with its head free, ready to dart at 

 any passing object which it desires to make its prey. 

 We have only one species, 



(Sp. 209.) H. brevirostris, Short-nosed Sea> 

 horse, and that is very rare, a few specimens only 

 being found now and then, chiefly in the south of 

 England. Tliey are described as swimming in a 

 vertical position, with the tail ready to grasp any 

 object that may be met with. " When two ap- 

 proach each other, they often twist their tails to- 

 gether, and struggle to separate or attach themselves 

 to the weeds ; this is done by the under part of 

 their cheeks or chin, which is also used for raising 

 the body when a new spot is wanted for the tail to 

 entwine afresh. The eyes move independently of 

 each other, as in the chameleon ; this, with the 

 brilHant changeable iridescence about the head, and 

 its blue bands, forcibly remind the observer of that 



animal."* 



* Lukis, apud Yarrell, vol. ii. p. 464. 



