THE SEA-DRAGONS. 63 



fins are very large, while the ventrals are very much re- 

 duced. They are all very small fishes inhabiting the coasts 

 of Arabia, China, Japan, the Malay Archipelago and Aus- 

 tralia. The Australian Sea-Dragon (Pegasus draconis} 



Fig. 23. SEA-DRAGOX (Pegasus draconis). 



is a peculiar little fish obtained occasionally on out- 

 side beaches, or in sandy coastal rock-pools. The fishes 

 of the genus Pegasus are possibly unique amongst all fishes, 

 in having the five foremost rays of the pectoral fin trans- 

 formed into strong spines. 



