THE GREAT PIPE-FISH. 395 



between ; on the anterior part of each eye is placed a small spine 

 directed laterally. Snout produced about half the width of the 

 head ; mouth very small placed quite at the extremity ; lower jaw 

 shortest^ ascending to meet the upper; teeth wanting; a small granu- 

 lated ridge on the upper part of the snout^ extending from the middle 

 of the upper lip, to between the eyes, where it is joined by another 

 small granulated ridge passing down from the summit of the cra- 

 nium ; on each side of this latter ridge, in another which terminates 

 at the upper and posterior margin of the orbit ; operculum large ; 

 very much resembling a mussel-shell in form, marked with granula- 

 ted and diverging striae ; gill-opening small, situated in a line over 

 the posterior margin of the operculum. Body mailed with about 

 sixty-three osseous plates, beautifully striated. Dorsal fin situated 

 immediately before the middle of the back, all the rays soft and 

 simple ; the middle ones rather the longest ; the base of the fin 

 equalling the length of tlie head, snout included ; the last ray jDlaced 

 half-way between the tip of the nose and the end of the caudal rays ; 

 vent in a line under the sixth dorsal ray, and immediately before the 

 anal fin, which is very small and scarcely visible, consisting of only 

 three short, simple rays. In the male there is a long longitudinal slit 

 extending from behind the vent, to nearly half-way down towards 

 the tail; caudal and pectoral fins rather small, and rounded at the 

 end ; ventrals wanting. Number of fin rays — 

 D. 43; P. 12; A. 3; C. 12. 



This species of Pipe-fish is not unfrequently met with 

 in the Firth of Forth, where it is found lurking under sea- 

 weed in shallow water. It is occasionally taken on the 

 Portobello sands, in shrimping nets, but in warm weather 

 it keeps farther from land. We are informed by Mr Yar- 

 rell, that the male differs from the female, in the belly from 

 the vent to the tail fin being much broader, and in liaving, 

 for about two-thirds of its length, two soft flaps, which fold 

 together and form a false belly. They breed in summer ; 

 the females casting their roe into the false belly of the males. 

 Early in the summer, roe is found in those without a false 

 belly, but never any in those with it ; but later in the sum- 

 mer no ova are found in the females, but in the false belly 

 of the males only. They begin to breed when only four or 



