168 BRITISH FISH AND FISHERIES. 



is captured in large quantities, but principally 

 as a bait for the sea-lines, and bushels are 

 sold to the French fishermen. Its under-jaw 

 projects in a singular manner, and enables it to 

 burrow into the sand, which it does on the 

 ebbing of the tide, and emerges from its hole on 

 the reflux. This fish is known as the riggle on 

 the coast of Sussex. We have an allied species 

 of larger size, but similar habits, called the 

 sand-eel, (Ammodytes toUanus.) It is not very 

 common. 



The fifth order of osseous fishes, established 

 by Cuvier, is termed Lophobranchii, in refer- 

 ence to the structure of the gills, which present 

 the appearance of little rounded tufts, disposed 

 in pairs along the branchial arches. They are 

 covered by a large gill-flap attached all round, 

 leaving only a small aperture for the passage of 

 the water. These fishes, besides, have the 

 whole body invested in a sort of cuirass, or 

 tesselated armour, producing ridges and angu- 

 larities. To this group belong five species of 

 pipe-fishes found upon our coasts, remarkable 

 for the length and slenderness of their body, and 

 the tenacity and prolongation of the snout, into 

 a sort of tube, with a small mouth at its extre- 

 mity. The males of some of the species have 

 an elongated pouch under the tail, closed by 



