330 



SYNGNATIIID.E. 



swimming near the abdomen of tlie parent fisli. This figure 

 of Rondeletius is copied in Willughby, plate I. 25, fig. 6. 



Mr. Couch says, " This species may be seen slowly mov- 

 ing about in a singular manner, horizontally or perpendi- 

 cularly, with the head downwards or upwards, and in every 

 attitude of contortion, in search of food, Avhicli chiefly seems 

 to be water insects." 



From the great similarity in the form and size of the 

 mouth in all the species, it is probable that their food is 

 also similar. Worms, small mollusca, young and minute 

 thin-skinned Crustacea, and the ova of other fishes, are 

 among the substances taken ; and these Syngnathi are sup- 

 posed to be able, by dilating their throat at pleasure, to draw 

 their food up their cylindrical beak-like mouth, as water is 

 drawn up the pipe of a syringe. 



From the point of the tubular mouth to the posterior 

 edge of the indurated portion of the operculum, the length 

 is, Avhen compared to the whole length of the fish, as one 

 to eight ; if measured to the edge of the shoulder, it is 

 as one to seven and a half, and this proportion exists in 

 specimens of various ages or lengths, from six inches to 

 eighteen ; from the mouth to a projecting point at the an- 

 terior edge of the eye, and thence to the origin of the pec- 

 toral fin, the distances are equal : the jaws united, tubular, 

 slightly compressed ; in depth but one-third that of the 

 head at its deepest part, Avhich is in a vertical line Avith 

 the centre of the operculum : the mouth small, placed at 

 the extremity of the tube, opening obliquely upwards ; the 

 lower jaw the longest : eyes rather large, bony orbits pro- 

 minent : operculum covered with radiating strise : the head 

 between the eyes flattened ; behind the eyes, rising into a 

 keel-like crest, which reaches to the neck : from the pecto- 

 ral fin to the anal aperture the body is deepest and hcpt- 



