FISHES. 



205 



one. that nearest the head is distinguished as " the fu'st dorsal." 

 Those neai' the gills, on what might he called the shoulders of 

 the fish, are the " pectoral," * and the pair nearest to them, but 

 on the lower surface of the body, are of course the " ventral." t 

 Thus the fins, in all cases, are named from the part of the 

 body to which they are attached. 



In the summer of 184G we had an opportunity of observing 

 the capabilit}' of the fins and tail in enabling a fish to achieve 

 a movement of a very unusual kind. We had taken in a tow- 

 ing-net one of the Pipe-fishes {Syngnathus acus, Fig. 182), 

 which had been swimming near the surface, and had placed it 

 in a basin of sea-water. J One of the long-bodied Crustacea 



Fig. 182.— Pipe-fish. 



which are abundant dmnng fine weather, and had been captured 

 at the same time, was placed in the same vessel. It was a 

 species of Gammarus,^ and about an inch in length. The 

 Gammarus would seem to have got tired of swimming, and, 



• Latin, pectoralis, of or belonging to the chest. 



t Venter, ventris, the belly. The fin or fins between the tail and the vent 

 are called the " anal." 



:J: Among the pleasant circumstances connected with the preparation of 

 this little book, I reckon the kindness with which my efforts have been 

 encouraged and assisted. Among those to whom , my obligations are thus 

 due, I must make especial mention of Mr. Yarrell and Mr. Van Voorst, 

 by whose liberality I have been permitted to copy some of the beautiful 

 illustrations of the " British FLshes." 

 They are the figures numbered 

 182. 183, 191, 194, 195, 204.— 

 R. P. 



§ Its appearance will be best 

 understood by the annexed figxire of 

 Gammarus locusta. 



