154 TEE STNGNATHID AND RIPPOCAMPID FISHES— GILL. yol.xviii. 



In 1846 Prince Bonaparte (of Canino) adopted this classification, but 

 changed the name from Hippocampidce to Pegasidce, and substituted for 

 SyngnathiJii, Siphostomini, and for Scyphini^ Syngnathini. The former 

 change was effected doubtless for the reason that Pegasus was the 

 longest named genus, and the latter because Syngnathus was restricted • 

 to the genus called JSferophis by other authors, while the one generally- 

 called Syngnathus was designated after Rafinesque Siphostoma. Bona- 

 parte's arrangement, then, was as follows: 



Oaieodermi [= Lopliobranchii']. 



Pegasidce [— Hippocampidw 1^ .}. 



Solcnostomini. 



Pegasiui. 



Hippocampini. 

 Syngnathida'. 



Siphostomini [= Syngnathini N.]. 



Syngnathini l—Scyphini N.]. 



The relationship between the Hippocampini and the restricted Syng- 

 nathidffi is evidently far nearer than that between the former and the 

 Solenostomini and Pegasini. Inasmuch as the last two types are now 

 universally conceded to be of family rank, it is unnecessary to urge the 

 differences between them and the Hippocampini. The characters used 

 to combine the three by Nardo are, indeed, not only superficial, but 

 illusive. There are, however, differences in dermal investment between 

 the SyngnathidsB proper and Hippocampini (or Hippocampidae) which 

 may be appreciated on analysis, and which are indicated in the diag- 

 noses of the respective families submitted in the following synopsis. 



Swainson referred three Linna?an genera to his family Syngnathidse, 

 which he divided into subgenera as follows : 



Pegassus, Linn. l=Pegmida;, Ad.]- 

 Eippocampus, Linn. [! = Hlppocampidcv , Ad.]. 



^^Hippocampus restricted.] 



Phyllopieryx, Sw. 



SoJenostoma, Lac. 

 Syngnathus, Linn. [=Syngnathidw, Ad.]. 



Syngnalhus, LiNN. 



Acu8, WitL. 



Solegnaihus, Sw. 



It is probable that Adams, if he had proceeded independently, would 

 not have been guilty of the gross inconsistencies which Swainson per- 

 petrated, but, as a matter of fact, his diagnoses were almost inter- 

 changeable with those assigned to the corresponding groups by 

 Swainson. 



In 1854 Adams recognized three families of Lophobranchii and diag- 

 nosed the Syngnathidse and Hippocampidfe as follows: 



1. FAMII.Y.— Pipefishes (Synguathidjie).— Body prolonged, slender, or 

 angulated; snout greatly prolonged, cylindrical j mouth terminal, ver- 

 tical; ventral fins absent; caudal fin wanting in some. 



