398 FISHES. LOPHOBRANCHII. 



ORDER V. LOPHOBRANCHII, Cuv. 



Jaws complete , branchiae in the form of small round tufts, dis- 

 posed in pairs along the branchial arches. 



This order is distinguished from all the other fishes by the character of their bran- 

 chiae, which, in place of being pectinated, are disposed in tufted pairs along the 

 branchial arches. These are covered by a large operculum attached on every side, 

 but in which is a small opening for the exit of the water. The fishes of this order 

 are besides distinguished by their body being armed with bony cushions, which render 

 its appearance angular. They are generally of small size. 



Gen. 1. SYNGNATHUS, Lin. 



Body long and slender ; snout tubular, much produced, of 

 nearly equal thickness ; mouth at the extremity, cylindrical, 

 subvertical ; branchial opening toward the neck ; no ventral 

 tins. 



The ova of this genus are hatched in a pouch, formed by an expansion of the skin, 

 which in some is placed under the belly, and in others at the base of the tail, and 

 which opens to allow the young to get out. 



* With two pectoral Jins, and one dorsal, caudal, and anal Jin. 



S. typhle., Lin. Smaller Pipe- Fish. Body hexagonal, marbled with 

 yellow and black ; fins grayish ; beak slender, a little compressed 

 on the sides ; eighteen plates on the body and thirty-six on the 

 tail, forming as many articulations ; tail square. 12 to 15 in- 

 ches long. Inhabits Northern Seas. Shaw, v. pi. 179. 



S acus, Lin. The great Pipe-Fish. General form of the preceding ; 

 trunk with twenty plates, and the tail, which is hexagonal, of 

 forty-three, with broad alternate bands of a yellowish-white and 

 brown ; the plates slightly radiated. 1 to 2 feet long. Inhabits 

 European seas. Shaw, v. pi. 179. 



** Wanting the anal Jin. 



S. pelagicus, Risso. Body heptagonal, yellowish brown, variegated 

 with narrow transverse deep brown bars placed at intervals along 

 the body. 12 inches long. European seas. Shaw, v. 454. 



*** Wanting anal and pectoral Jins. 



S. cequoreus, Lin. Body rather compressed and angular, with an 

 acute dorsal and abdominal ridge, which, together with three slight 

 angles on each side, give it an octangular appearance ; thirty plates 

 from the gills to the vent, and about sixty-six from the vent to 

 the point of the tail, which is long and slender ; colour yellowish, 

 with transverse pale lines and dark margins. Inhabits British 

 seas. Mont. Wern. Trans, i. pi. 4. 



**** Wanting all but the dorsal Jin. 



S. ophidion, Lin. Body rounded, greenish, without fins, except a 

 dorsal one. 1 to 2 feet long. Inhabits Northern seas Bloch, 

 pi. 91, fig. 3. 



