1346 THE STORY OF THE UNIVERSE 



wanting instances to prove that these animals may 

 exhibit traits of character sometimes wanting in 

 higher groups of animals. Any one who has kept 

 gold-fishes must have noted that in time they be- 

 come more and more familiar with the hand that 

 feeds them, and the experience of aquarium keepers 

 goes to prove that some fishes may even show signs 

 of recognizing friends. 



Like the human race, the class of fishes evinces 

 many illustrations of individuals and groups which 

 differ more or less widely from their more common- 

 place neighbors. To some of the more curious of 

 these "odd fishes" we may next direct attention. 



A very singular little group of fishes, for example, 

 is that known to the naturalist by the name Lopho- 

 branchii; this term meaning literally "tuft-gilled." 

 Included in this division are two curious families, 

 of one of which the sea-horses or Hippocampi are 

 the representatives; while to the other family be- 

 long their allies, the pipe-fishes. No more interest- 

 ing forms than these two groups can well be selected 

 from the great class of which they are little-known 

 members. And the interest with which they are re- 

 garded by zoologists extends beyond the mere in- 

 vestigation of their outside form or appearance; 

 since they present, in many points of their economy, 

 and habits, very marked deviations from what one 

 may call the ordinary course of fish-life. 



Imagine a little body from four to six inches in 

 length, topped by a head which in outline exactly re- 

 sembles that of a horse, and which tapers off below, 

 or rather behind, into a lithe, flexible, and pointed 



