Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 775 



347. OSPHYOLAX, Cope. 



(hphyoloj-, Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila., 1875, 450, {lu'lhiridus). 



Pectoral fius wanting; tailsubcylindric. Body covered with thin, weakly 

 keeled scuta, which have on the lumbar region free superior edges, which 

 form a series of longitudinal lateral grooves. Lateral dorsal scutes pio- 

 duced upward, and approximated on the middle line, inclosing a tube 

 for a distance anterior to the dorsal fin. Dorsal fin short, above the 

 vent. No ventral nor caudal pouch ; caudal fin rudimental. This genus 

 is related to SyngnathKS, but is different from known forms in its curious 

 dorsal tube. What the purpose of this can be is uncertain, but the strong 

 lateral channels below it on each side are probably an adaptation for the 

 carrying of the eggs. In the type si^ecies the dorsal tube is closed above 

 by a series of small radiate ossicles in the median line, between v.'hich 

 the cavity may be entered by small bodies. The same specimen displays 

 a narrow, free dermal membrane on the middle lines of the upper and 

 lower surfaces from the thoracic to the beginning of the lumbar region. 

 Open sea. {ury<prc, small of the back ; ula^, a tube.) 



ll:{9. OSPHTOL.iX PELLUCIDUS, Cope. 



Head 11 in length ; snout 2 in head. Three longitudinal series of 

 scuta on each side of body, and one on middle line below. They are 

 rounded at the intersecting angles, thus leaving a vacancy, which is 

 covered by a small, round scale. Each scute with a low median keel, 

 from which delicate transverse ridges diverge. The two lower lateral 

 series are the ones which form the lumbar grooves. Two nuchal scuta. 

 Parietal and frontal regions impressed, punctate ; operculum radiate ; sides 

 of muzzle smooth. Thirty-one transverse rows of scuta. Dorsal radii 

 sixteen. Lengtli 9 inches ; tail equal to rest of body. Color pellucid, 

 the back tinged with l)rowni8h. (Cope.) Open Atlantic. Not seen by us. 

 (2)eUueidtifi, trans^iarent.) 



Osphyalaz pellucidus, Cope, Vroc. Ac. 'Na.t. Sci. Phila., 1875, 450, plate xxv, fig.s. 1 to 4, open 

 Atlantic Ocean. (Coll. Capt. J. Mortimer.) 



348. HIPPOCAMPUS,* Rafinesque. 

 (The Sea-horsks.) 



Hippocampus, Rafinesque, Indice d'lttiologia Siciliana, 37, 1810, {hlppocampu)') . 

 Hippocatnpus, Leach, Z06I. Misc., 1814, 103, (hippocampus). 



* The following European species has been several times recorded from our coast, but prob- 

 ably either Hippocantpus hudsouius or H. jmnctulatns has been mistaken for it. 

 HipjMcampus hipjiocampus (LllJNJ;i"s) : 



Dorsal fin with 20 (19) rays. Tubercles generally well iloveloped on the head and body, and 

 Bubacutc, rarely blunt. Length of the snout equal to the distance lietween the liind margin of 

 the orbit and gill opening. Spines on tlio head and neck sometiiiu s with simple filaments. 

 Brown, with bluish-white dots, more or less confluent into lines on the lower part of the side 

 and gill cover : dorsal fin with a black submarginal band. Coasts of southern Kurope, north 

 to England; abundant in the Mediterranean. Brown, the sides profusely spotted with white, 

 the snout plain. 



SynjualliKx hippottimjyus, LiNN^rs, Syst. Nat., Ed. x, 17.58, 3.'i8, open sea. 

 Hippocampus heptatjoyiuK, Rafinesqve, I. c , 37, 1810. 



