OSSEOUS FISHES. 



535 



the Atlantic and Mediterranean, where it is largely used by the 

 fishermen in baiting their hooks. It is found in great abundance in 

 the Atlantic between the Equator and the Western Isles. 



The Sea Horse (Hippocampus) is a small creature about the size of 

 the engraving (Fig. 362) ; its head has a singular resemblance to that 

 of the horse. The rings which constitute the integument of the body 

 and tail have a close resemblance to the rings of some caterpillars. 

 This curious combination of forms originated the name, Hippocampus, 

 from rTTTTo?, horse, Ka^nro^, fish, adopted in very ancient times 

 to designate this creature. It is found in the Atlantic, round the 



Fig. 362. The Sea-horse (Hippocampus). 



coast of Spain, the south of France, in the Mediterranean, and in the 

 Indian Ocean. Mr. Lukis, who raised two females in captivity, 

 describes their habits as follows: "When they swim," he says, 

 " they preserve a vertical position, but their tail seems on the alert to 

 seize whatever it meets with in the water, clasping the stem of the 

 rushes. Once fixed, the animal seems to watch attentively all the 

 surrounding objects, and darts on any prey presenting itself with 

 great dexterity. When one of them approaches the other, they 

 interlace their two tails, and it is only after a struggle that they can 

 separate again, attaching themselves by the lower part of the chin 



