20 LOPHOBRANCHII. 



Descr. — Snout longer than the head, with rough edges. Mar- 

 gins of the orbits on the fore and under side, and as far for- 

 ward as the nostrils, furnished with rough, irregular, short spines. 

 Hind-head destitute of a coronet, but with a spine and an ele- 

 vated nuchal shield, on which there are lines in relief. Breast- 

 ring acutely ridged on its dorsal surface, with a spinous projec- 

 tion laterally, and a median furrow on the ventral surface ; above 

 as well as below it has two pairs of spines. Pectoral fin broad, 

 but not long. Back concave, with bunchy intermediate scales. 

 Belly sharply ridged. 



1. Solenognathus Hardwickii, S wains. 



Solenognathus Hardwickii, Swainson, Nat. Hist. 

 Syngnathus Hardwickii, Gray, III. hid. Zool. pi. 89. 

 Hippocampus Hardwickii, Voigt, in der Ubersetz. von Cuv. Regne 



Anim. 

 Solegnathus polyprion *, Bleeker, Bijdrag. d Troskieuwige 



Visschen v. d. hid. Archip. xxv. deel d. Verh. Batav. Gen. 



p. 25. 



Descr. — This is the longest, thickest, and most rugged 

 form of the whole family, and exhibits the greatest number of 

 body-rings. The tail rings are from 55 to 60. In some indivi- 

 duals there are skinny appendages to the snout. The colour 

 is yellowish-brown, with blackish edges to the back. Eves 

 golden, with black streaks. Rad. P. 23 ; D. 43 ; A. 4 ; CO. 



It is a common species in the Indian Ocean, especially in the 

 China Sea. Dimensions of very large individuals : whole length 

 from 15^ to 1 7f inches ; length of head, 2 to 2 '3 inches ; distance 

 from the edge of the gill-plate to the anus, 66 to 7'5 inches ; 

 length of dorsal fin from 1 '9 to 23 inches. 



p' 



Genus 5. PHYLLOPTERYX, Swainson. 



Phyllopteryx, Sioainson, Nat. Hist, of Fishes, ii. p. 332. 



Diagn. — Body much compressed; neck elongated, slender; 

 back arched ; belly prominent ; and dorsal fin standing on an 

 elevation. Flat, denticulated bones, supporting leaf-like 

 cutaneous appendages, project from the body and tail. Tail 

 destitute of a fin, yet not prehensile. 



* I cannot distinguish between S. poly prion from China and S. 

 Hardivickii from India. 



