156 STNGNATHID^. 



Body with the ridges more or less distinct, the dorsal edge of the 

 trunk not being continuous with that of the tail. Pectoral fins 

 well developed, caudal present. Dorsal fin opposite or near to vent. 

 Humeral bones firmly united into the " breast-ring." Males with 

 an egg-pouch on the tail, the eggs being covered by cutaneous 

 folds. 



Inhabitants of all the seas of the temperate and tropical regions, 

 some of the species entering or living in iresh water. 



The numerous species may be subdivided thus : — 



A. Operculum without, oi with only a' basal ridge. 



a. Base of the dorsal fin not raised above the level of the back, 



p. 156. 

 h. Base of the dorsal fin elevated, p. 167. 



B. Operculum crossed by a ridge in its entire length, p. 169. 



A. Opercidmn without ridge^ or with only a short ridge on its basal portion. 

 a. Base of the dorsal Jin not raised above the level of the back. 



1 . Syngnathus pMegon. 



Synsiiallius phlegou, Hisso, Eur. Merid. iii. p. 181 ; Kaup, Lophobr. 

 p. 41. 



D. 40-42. Osseous rings 19-1-49-50. 



The length of the snout equals the distance of tne front margin 

 of the orbit from the second body-ring. A low ridge is continued 

 from the su])raorbital edge on to the temple ; anterior part of the 

 operculum with a faint ridge. Shields terminating in a spine, incon- 

 spicuous in young examjiles. Tail very long, nearly twice as long 

 as the body ; caudal pouch twice as long as the trunk (without the 

 head). Dorsal fin commenning in advance of the vent. Caudal fin 

 well developed. 



Mediterranean and neighbouring parts of the Atlantic ; Cape of 

 Good Hope. 



prteanal. 10, caud. 20. Corpore caudaque transversim pinnaque dors, 

 oblique nigrescenti fasciatis. D. 28. — Atlantic. — T'le typical specimens 

 are lost. 

 5. Syiignathus flavofusciatus, Ruppell, N. IV. Fisch. p. 144. — Capite brevi, 

 nonara partem corporis sequante, rostro dimidio longitudine capitis, 

 vertice cristii snrrata, pinnis ventralibus breviusculis, D. 31. Capite 

 lineis longitudinalibus quinque fuscis. — Red Sea. — The single specimen 

 observed, 3.^ inches long, has been lost, so that the remarkable statement 

 of this species being provided with ventral fins cannot be explained. 



C. Dermatostethus punctipinnis, Gi/l, Proc. Ac. Naf. Sc. Philad. 1862, p. 283 



— California. — D. 40-42. Osseous rings 204-39. Breast-shield covered 



with skin ; occiput elevated and keeled. 

 7. Microphis tenuis, Blyfh, Journ. As. See. Be7ig. xxvii. p. 272. — Andaman 



Islands. — Osseous rings 164-36. 

 8 Sjngnathus brachjccphalus, Pocy, Krpcrt. Fis.-nat. Cuba, ii. p. 444. — 



Cuba. 

 0. tenuis. Pocy, I. c. — Cuba. 



