THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. 231 
duced to a small aperture behind upper part of opercle. Body 
covered with bony plates which are firmly connected, forming a 
bony carapace. ‘Tail long, prehensile or not, usually provided 
with a small caudal fin. Males with an egg-pouch, usually placed 
on under surface of tail, sometimes on abdomen, and commonly 
formed of 2 folds of skin which meet on median line. Eggs are 
received into this pouch and retained until some time after hatch- 
ing, when pouch opens, permitting young to escape. ‘Dorsal fin 
single, nearly median, of soft rays only. Anal fin minute, usually 
present. Pectorals small or wanting. Ventrals none. 
Small fishes, sometimes in fresh waters, and found in all warm 
seas. 
Key to the genera. 
a. Tail not prehensile, usually a caudal fin; axis of head usually in line 
with axis of body. SYNGNATHUS 
aa. Tail prehensile, caudal fin small; head shaped like that of a horse, placed 
at large angle with axis of body. HIPPOCAMPUS 
Genus SYNGNATHUS Linnezus. > 
The Pipe Fishes. 
Syngnathus fuscus Storer. 
Pipe Fish. Green Pipe Fish. Bill Fish. 
Head 8%; head and trunk 1% in rest of body to base of 
caudal; depth 334 in head; D. 38; rings 19 + 38; snout 2 in 
head measured from its own tip; eye 244 in snout; interorbital 
space about 1% in orbit longitudinally; anal 114; least depth of 
caudal peduncle 134; base of dorsal a trifle greater than head ; 
pectoral 334; caudal 27%. Body very elongate and slender, 7- 
angled, and with tapering long tail. Median ridge laterally 
and below well keeled. Head slender, tapering, median line 
above and below well keeled. Eye a little ellipsoid and posterior. 
Jaws toothless. Mouth oblique and mandible protruding. Me- 
dian rostral keel conspicuous, edge finely serrate, and extending 
to interorbital space. Interorbital space concave. Occiput, nu- 
