34 LOPHOBRANCHII. 



3. Syngnathus spicifer, Rttppell. 



Syngnathus spicifer, Riipp. Neue Wirbelth. 



Diagn. — The lateral line descends in a curve to the lower 

 border of the first tail- ring. Base of the dorsal fin including 

 the 2nd and 8th tail-rings. Back flat, belly acute ; 15 rings 

 before the anal one, and 16 before the dorsal. Edge of the 

 back reaching to the fifth ring of the dorsal fin. 



Descr. — A distinct and handsome species, discovered by Dr. 

 RUppell in the Red Sea. The Frankfort specimen is a male. 

 At Leyden there is one female obtained at Macassar by M. Piller, 

 and another got by Forster at Celebes. A dried specimen sent 

 from Pondicherry by Leschenault, and two males and one female 

 preserved in spirits, captured in the same sea by Reynaud, on the 

 expedition of the ' Chevrette,' belong to the Paris Museum. 



The snout, measured from the front of the orbit, is as long 

 as the distance from thence to the root of the pectoral fin. Fore- 

 head somewhat concave, orbits moderately projecting. A line 

 rising in relief between the orbits and the somewhat elevated 

 hind-head, which also has a prominent medial but irregular line. 

 Body higher than broad, with a sharp belly and very distinct 

 edges. Tail of 39 or 40 rings. 



Rad— P. 14; D. 27; A. 2, very rudimentary ; CIO. 



Length of head - 73 inch, of snout - 33 inch, of body 2"00 

 inches, of egg-pouch 1*81 inch. 



Under part of the snout brownish, gill-cover whitish with black 

 dots. Belly whitish, with 17 black cross-bands rising to the 

 angle of the back. The short dorsal fin is speckled with black. 

 The Macassar female has distinct markings. Another female 

 6*78 inches long, is almost black, with traces only of white 

 spots ; it was brought from Guinea, and is in the Leyden Mu- 

 seum. The dried Parisian specimen, which is from Pondicherry, 

 has no distinct markings, nor any decided colour. It is evident, 

 from the above remarks, that the species is very widely diffused 

 in the ocean. Since the patterns of colours which it exhibits 

 are not constant, I have drawn up the specific characters rather 

 from peculiarities of form. 



4. Syngnathus Knhlii, Kp. 



Syngnathus variegatus, Kulil et V. Hass. 



Diagn. — Lateral line descending in an arch to the lower 

 border of the first tail-ring. Dorsal fin placed on five rings. 



