THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN OF FISHES. 179 



Fishes, describes and figures the short-nosed 

 hippocampus, which, though rare, has been 

 taken on the Hampshire coast, in Swansea 

 Bay, and at Guernsey, and the other channel 

 islands. " At the time of writing," says Mr. 

 Yarrell, June 9, 1835, "Mr. Lukis (of 

 Guernsey) had two f(;malc specimens of Hip- 

 pocampus hrevirostris, then healthy and active, 

 which had been living twelve days in a glass 

 vessel ; their actions equally novel and 

 amusing. ' An appearance of search for a 

 resting place induced me (says Mr. Lukis) 

 to considt their wishes by placing sea-weed 

 and straws in the vessel ; the desired effect 

 was obtained, and has afforded me much to 

 reflect upon in their habits. They now ex- 

 hibit many of their peculiarities, and few 

 subjects of the deep have displayed, in prison, 

 more sport or more intelligence. Wlien swim- 

 ming about, they maintain a vertical position, 

 but the tail is ready to grasp whatever it meets 

 in the water, and quickly entwines in any 

 direction round the weeds, and, when fbied, the 

 animal instantly watches the surrounding 

 objects, and darts at its prey with great dex- 

 terity. When they approach each other, they 

 often twist their tails together, and struggle 



