166 FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



cies. It was taken at the swimming school in this city ; and 

 soon after its capture, numerous ova contained in its false 

 pouches were hatched ; so that when I came in possession of 

 it, two days after it was caught, it was surrounded by one 

 hundred and fifty young, about half an inch long ; nearly 

 colorless, with several narrow transverse black bands. From 

 this specimen I am enabled to give the natural appearances 

 more correctly than could be done from a preserved fish. This 

 specimen is 7 1-2 inches in length ; its general color is an olive 

 brown with transverse darker colored blotches or bars, thirteen 

 of which are seen in front of the dorsal fin. The posterior 

 portion of the body is darker colored than the anterior. The 

 under surface of the body anterior to the vent, is of a beautiful 

 golden yellow ; the portion back of the vent, for about two 

 inches, is nearly white ; this portion is much wider than the 

 rest of the body, and presents tvv^o membranous flaps, which 

 approach each other at the median line, thus forming pouches, 

 or a false belly, in which are contained the ova of the female ,• 

 the under surface of the posterior portion of the body,of the same 

 color as the upper. The upper portion of the operculum olive 

 colored ; the lower portion, golden yellow. Color of the snout 

 brown, having a darker line running through its centre from the 

 eye to the mouth. The eyes are prominent and very moveable 

 in their orbits : the pujDils black ; the irides golden. 



The Dorsal fin has 45 rays. 



The Pectorals are lighter colored than the body. 



The Caudal fin is black, and rounded at its extremity. 



The motions of this species, which is the only " Syngnathus" 

 I have seen alive, are exceedingly rapid, resembling the gyra- 

 tions' of the '• Colubers." 



At the moment these pages are printed, I am enabled 

 to examine several living specimens, all of which have been 

 taken at the same locality with that last referred to. They 

 have each, either their pouches crowded with ova, or are in 

 the act of protruding the young. And the accurate eye of my 

 friend Dr. Wyman has detected, and he has pointed out to me, 

 an exceedingly minute anal fin, which is scarcely discernible 

 without the aid of a glass. 



