S ATLT UAL HISTORY. 



Cold welle streams, nothing dcde, 



That swormmen full of smale fishes light, 



With fimies red, and scales silver bright.&quot; CHAUCER. 



Sub-order V. Lophobranchia. 

 1113. Wliy is the fifth sub-order named lophobranchia f 



From lophon, a crest, and branchia, gills meaning crest 

 yilled. 



1114. In the lophobranchia the gills are arranged in little tufts, disposed in pairs 

 along the branchial arches. The aperture f jr the exit of water is very small. The 

 body is elongated in its form, and covered with bony plates. The fins are imper 

 fectly developed. The bones of the face are prolonged, forming a snout. This 

 sub-order includes only a single family, composed of small fishes, of very 

 singular appearance. 



1115. IVliy has the sea-horse a small pouch-like opening upon 

 its abdomen ? 



In the course of the summer, this curious sac is filled with 

 eggs ; and at a later period, when the fry are hatched, they 

 continue for a time to seek shelter within this singular cavity. 



1116. Mr. Yarrell describes this curious provision nearly us follows :&quot; The 

 male differs from the female in the belly, from the vent to the tail fin, being much 

 broader, and in having, for about two-thirds of its length, two soft flaps, which 

 fold together and form a pouch. They breed in summer, the females depositing 

 their roe in the pouches of the males. 



1117. Why has the sea-horse* a pointed tail, destitute of the 

 usual Jin ? 



It uses the long tapering tail 

 to support itself by twisting it round 

 the stems of sea-weed and other objects. 

 moving about slowly ainongst sea 

 weed, by a scries of undulations, feeding 

 upon minute Crustacea, worms, mol- 

 lusca, &c. As the creature cannot pur 

 sue its prey, a caudal fin would be of uo 

 utility ; the tail is therefore converted 

 into a kind of fulcrum, from which the 

 animal srrikes its prey. 



* Hippocampus. 



15* 



