LOPHOBRANCHII. 1^ 



The space under the rim of the belly (lateral line), wherein the 

 true angle of the belly would be, and the median ventral line lie 

 in one and the same plane. 



The nudes, like those of Nerophis, carry their eggs in (5 to S 

 rows extending from the anus to the 2nd body-ring. 



1. Gasterotokeus biaculeatus, Heck. 



Syngnathus biaculeatus, Block, t. 121. f. 1. 

 Syngnathus Blochii, Bleeker. 



Descr. — It attains a length of 6£ inches and perhaps more. 

 Body composed of 16, and tail of from 20 to 25 determinate rings ; 

 the others, 23 to 28, are to be reckoned in dried specimens only. 

 The tail, as far as the end of the lateral projection, is hexagonal. 

 Dorsal tin standing on 10 to 1 1 rings, the first of which is the anal 

 ring. A wreath of fine warts surrounds the anus. Some indi- 

 viduals exhibit cutaneous flaps on the snout, and throughout 

 the body. The anal fin lies in a cavity- In the Berlin Museum 

 there is a male variety which has a projection over the nostrils. 

 The colour is rosaceous violet, marbled with yellow and green, 

 and striped. Snout and fins rose-coloured. Others are more 

 generally yellowish-brown. 



Very common in the Chinese and Indian Oceans, the Indian 

 Archipelago, Red Sea, Madagascar, &c. Numbers of speci- 

 mens are kept in all the Museums of Leyden, London, Paris, 

 Vienna, Berlin, &c. 



Obs. — We are ignorant of the manner in which the eggs 

 are hatched in the two following genera, since no specimens 

 have been procured which possess egg-pits on the breast and 

 belly or have tail-pouches. It is probable, therefore, that the 

 eggs are matured in these genera as in ordinary fishes. 



Genus 4. SOLENOGNATHUS, Swainson. 



Solenognathus, Swainson, Nat. Hist, of Fishes, ii. 333. 



Diagn. — -Body laterally compressed and higher than broad. 

 Lateral line confluent with the upper angle of the tail, form- 

 ing an arch. The intermediate, oblong, little shields are 

 radiated by lines in relief. From 22 to 26 body-rings, and 

 55 to 60 tail-rings. Dorsal fin standing in a furrow on 10 to 

 11 tail-rings. Tail prehensile. 



