FISHES 1349 



bodies from the attached position, they appear to 

 manoeuvre with the chin and head in order to effect 

 their purpose. Their food appears to consist of small 

 crustaceans, worms, etc. ; and they are known to be 

 especially fond of such delicate titbits as are afforded 

 by the eggs of other fishes. 



Perhaps the most curious part of the history of 

 the sea-horses relates to their care of the young. 

 Fishes generally take little or no care of their off- 

 spring, and it is therefore the more surprising 

 to encounter in these little beings a singular ex- 

 ample of parental fidelity and attachment. Nor, 

 as might be expected, is it the mother-fish who is 

 charged with the task of attending the young. Con- 

 trary to the general rule, the male fish assumes the 

 part of nurse, and well and faithfully does he appear 

 to discharge his duties. At the root of the tail in 

 the male sea-horse a curious little pouch is seen. 

 In this pouch the eggs laid by the females which 

 want the pouch are deposited, and are therein duly 

 hatched. Nor does the parental duty end here; for 

 after the young are hatched and swim about by them- 

 selves, they seek refuge in trie pouch during the early 

 or infantile period of their life whenever danger 

 threatens them. This procedure forcibly reminds 

 one of the analogous habits of the kangaroos and 

 their young; but the occurrence is the more remark- 

 able in the lower and presumably less intelligent 

 fish. 



Some experiments made on the sea-horses seem 

 to demonstrate the existence of a more than ordi- 

 nary degree of attachment to the young. Thus when 



