LOFHOBRANCHIi: 21 



Descr. — Snout twice the length of the head, with two 

 spines on its posterior third part. Two diverging spines on the 

 upper rim of the orbit. Body eoni pressed, with a thin belly anil 

 back. The lateral line united to the under angle of the tail. 

 The upper angle of the tail extends forwards to the beginning of 

 the dorsal tin. All the angles rough and emit a spine at the 

 extremity of each ring. A thin, elongated spine on the hind- 

 head and breast-ring. Denticulated bony projections springing 

 from the ventral aspects of the 8th and 10th body-rings; like- 

 wise from the dorsal aspects of the 11th and the ultimate body- 

 rings, and from the 10th, Kith, 21st and 25th tail-rings. All 

 these projections are adorned with leaf-like appendages. The 

 breast-ring, which is swollen out, has four pairs of spines. 



This genus comes nearer to Sole nog nuihus and Hippocampus 

 than to Gasterotoktus. 



1. Pliyllopteryx foliatus, Sivainson. 



Syngnathus foliatus, Shaw, Gen. Zool. v. 180. 



Syngnathus tamiopterus, Lace'p. Ann. du Mus. iv. t. 58. f. 3. 



Descr. — This is one of the most extraordinary forms among 

 fishes. I am acquainted only with the grown-up fish, and have 

 seen none of the young of this species. Full-grown individuals 

 have a length of upwards of 15'8 inches. Round light-coloured 

 specks exist on the head and snout, and also on the body and 

 tail. Five white stripes run down the elongated neck. Dr. 

 Brown, the celebrated botanist, possesses an admirably coloured 

 figure of this species, executed by Bauer during Capt. Flinders' 

 survey of the coasts of Australia. The body has 17 rings, and 

 the tail about 35. The dorsal fin stands on 7 rings, of which one 

 only belongs to the body. Rad, P. 20; D. 30; A. ? 4 ; C. 0. 

 The leaf-like membranes are black or brown, with deep black 

 borders. 



Lacepede's figure is incorrect, and represents the snout as too 

 short. None of the examples in the Paris Museum have so 

 short a snout, and I can scarcely think that it represents a distinct 

 species. Shaw's and Lacepede's names were published in the 

 same year. 



Specimens exist only in the British and Parisian Museums. 



Subfam. 2. SYNGNATHIN^, Kp. 



Males furnished with a caudal egg-pouch, which is open 

 throughout. Tail never prehensile. 



