5S. SYNGXATHIDiE SIPHOSTOMA. 
383 
minute, close behind vent; pectorals develoi)ed, short and rather broad. 
Male fishes with an egg-pouch along the under side of the tail, formed 
by two cutaneous folds, and splitting lengthwise to extrude the young 
fishes. Species numerous, inhabiting all warm seas; abounding iu bays 
among the sea-weeds, and entering the rivers. The species of this 
genus are subject to many variations, and their proper discrimination 
is very difficult, tube; (7r«/ia, mouth.) 
a. Breast sliiekls not covered by skin; l(]*\ver jaw projecting. (Siphostoma.) 
b. Atlantic coast species. 
614. S. fuscum (Storer) J. & G. — Common Pipe-fish. 
Olivaceous; sides mottled and blotched as iu other species; base of 
dorsal with darker spots. IMuzzle shorter than the rest of the head. 
Occiput usually more or less keeled. Dorsal fin longer than the head, 
covering 4 + 5 rings. Distance from snout to dorsal 3 in total length. 
Belly in females scarcely carinate. Tail one-third longer than rest of 
body. Lateral line and upper caudal edge not continuous. Dead 9. 
D. 35-40. Bings 18+37. L. 10. Atlantic coast, common northward; 
described from specimens from Wood’s IIoll, Mass. 
(Syngnathus fuscus Storer, Rept. Fish. Mass. 1838, 162: Siphonostoma fuscum Jor. &, 
Gilb. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mas. 1880, 22: Syngnathus pechianus Storer, 1. c. 163: Syngnathus 
peckianus Giiuther, viii, 157 : Syngnathus fascialus and viridcsceHS DeKay, New York 
Fauna, Fish. 319-331: ^ Syngnathus afiinis* Giiuther, viii, 164; from Louisiana.) 
615. S. louisianacE (Giinther) J. & G. 
Color of other species; base of dorsal spotted. Muzzle longest in 
females, much longer than the rest of the head. Occiput somewhat 
keeled. Dorsal fin shorter than the head, on 3+5 rings. Distance 
from snout to dorsal 2^- in total length. Bellj" in females scarcely 
* S. affinis (Gunther) J. & G. 
“The length of the suout is a little less than that of the remaining part of the head. 
Head nearly one-ninth of the total length. A distinct ridge runs along the median 
line of the snout and nuchal shields. Supraorbital ridge continued over the temples. 
Anterior part of the operculum with a faint ridge. Shields without spines. Tail 
longer than body. Caudal xiouch half as long as the body. Lateral line interruxjted. 
Vent below the posterior third of the dorsal, which occuxiies 9 rings, 5 of which are 
hbdy-rings. Caudal fin well develoxied ; anal fin rudimentary in the male. Back 
with indistinct brown cross-bars; a brown band from the eye along the snout.” 
Total length 6 inches. Head 10 lines. Trunk If inch. Length to origin of dorsal 
fin 2 inches. Louisiana. (G-iiniher.) 
Another form or sjjecies has the body stouter and the color darker, the dorsal in the 
females very high, and blackish, with paler spots. Muzzle about equal to the rest of 
the head. Occiput somewhat carinated. Dorsal fin shorter than the head, on 3 + 5 
rings. Distance from snout to dorsal 2f iu length. Belly in the females with a sharp 
black Carina. Head 7. D. 30-31. Rings 15 + 33. Saint John’s River, Florida. 
{Siphonostoma sx). Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 1880, 22.) 
