GENERA AND SPECIES. 117 



spine and 5 rays. The second dorsal is highest in front. The 

 lateral line curves to the first third of the anal, and then forms a 

 raised keel towards the caudal. The fins are grey, the dorsal and 

 anal being tipped with black. The length is about 9 inches. This 

 fish is usually caught in roadsteads, to which it has accompanied 

 some vessel ; occasionally it is found in shoals, as at Falmouth, 

 when 3 dozen were caught at a time. 



Nemachilus. Plate xxiii. CYPRINID^E. 

 184. barbatula, LOACH. Barbules 6. 



The Loach has 10 rays in the dorsal fin, 7 or 8 in the anal, 17 in 

 the caudal, 10 to 12 in the pectorals, and 8 or 9 in the ventrals. 

 The dorsal is over the ventrals, and midway between the eye and the 

 caudal ; the caudal is wide at the base and oblong in shape. The 

 back is but slightly curved, and the abdomen is straight. The 

 lateral line runs from the top of the eye along the upper half of the 

 body. The snout overhangs the mouth, which extends to beneath 

 the hind nostril ; there is no spine at the nostril. The colour is 

 greenish, with white underparts, and the length 5 inches. The 

 Loach avoids muddy water, and frequents clear streams and pools 

 with a gravelly bottom, where it lurks under the stones and among 

 floating grass, looking out for worms and insects. It is very sensi- 

 tive to changes of temperature, and is occasionally kept in glass 

 bowls as a weather indicator. 



Nerophis. Plate xv. SYNGNATHID&. 



116. aquoreus, OCEAN PIPE-FISH. Rings 28 to 31, and 56 to 61. 



117. ophidian, STRAIGHT-NOSED PIPE-FISH Rings 28 or 29, 



and 65. 



118. lumbriciformis, WORM PIPE-FISH. Rings 18 or 19, and 49. 



The Ocean Pipe-fish has from 37 to 44 rays in its dorsal. The 

 anal, pectorals, and ventrals are always absent, the caudal usually 

 so. The number of osseous rings mentioned above are given as 

 before and behind the vent. The colour is olive, darkest along the 

 back, with black-edged bluish bands, there being a purple stripe 

 along the snout, and the dorsal rays being yellow. In length this 

 Pipe-fish reaches 41 inches. It lives in deepish water. The tail is 

 prehensile. 



The Straight-nosed Pipe-fish has from 34 to 38 rays in its dorsal, 

 which stands on 12 rings, 8 of which are beyond the vent. The 

 snout turns upwards a little. The colour is greenish, spotted with 

 white, there being a black band across the gill cover. In length 

 this fish measures about 12 inches. It lives in moderately deep 

 water, and between the tide-marks. 



The Worm Pipe-fish has from 24 to 26 rays in its dorsal, which 

 stands on 8 rings, of which 6 are beyond the vent. The snout is 

 turned up. In colour the body is olive brown, with white lines and 

 dots. In length it reaches 9 inches. This fish is found among the 

 seaweeds in rocky pools, and is unknown below low-water mark. 



