416 FISHES. 



a point. In colour this fish, which grows to a length of at 

 least 12 inches, is dark brown with lighter spots. It is 

 ad found on most parts of our coasts, being 



nosed confused in some localities with the young 



Pipe-fish. of the garfish. 



Greater Pipe-fish. A striped, deep-water species. 



The green, white-lined Straight-nosed Pipe-fish of about 

 the same size is also found round our coasts, though in 

 straight- somewhat deeper water than the last. The 

 nosed tail of this species is pointed, and the male 



Pipe-fish. lackg t k e egg-pouch found in the last. 



The largest of British Pipe-fishes, the Sea-adder, grows 

 to a length of over 2 feet, and is common in the 



majority of our estuaries, where it is accused 

 Pipe-fish of "stinging." Certainly, those who have 

 or Sea- never seen a real snake might possibly mistake 



this for one hence, no doubt, the supersti- 

 tion. In colour this harmless fish is dark brown with 

 bluish-white bands and a purplish stripe on the face. The 

 male has no pouch, but retains the eggs in a fold of skin. 



In the smallest of all, the Worm Pipe-fish, we have a 

 species not exceeding a length of 9 inches, and in colour 

 Worm of a dark green or brown, with white lines 



Pipe-fish. an( j S p O t s< Like the rest, it appears generally 

 distributed on our coasts. According to Couch, this species 

 keeps almost entirely to the ground. 



A familiar object in the aquarium, the remarkable Sea- 

 horse occurs sparingly on all our coasts. It has a mailed 

 body, with lateral ridges, also a tubular snout 

 and the family egg-pouch. The pointed tail 

 is prehensile, and the sea-horse is fond of winding it round 

 stems of weed or other support. The body, which is 

 covered with spines, is black, with white dots and bands ; 

 and the greatest length of the species is about 4 inches. 



