LOPHOBRANCHII. 2*21 



a second behind the vent, and with a third which is forked at the end of 

 the tail ; these three fins, however, are separated by free spaces. The snout 

 is acute : the upper jaw susceptible of extension, and the lower one, when at 

 rest, longer than the other. 



ORDER V. 



LOPHOBRANCHI *. 



ALL the fishes of which we have hitherto spoken, have not only a bony or 

 fibrous skeleton, and complete and free jaws, but their branchiae are uniformly 

 composed of laminae, or are pectiniform. In this order, however, we likewise 

 find the jaws free and complete ; but it is eminently distinguished by the 

 gills, which, instead of resembling, as usual, the teeth of a comb, are divided 

 into small round tufts, arranged in pairs along the branchial arches, a structure 

 of which no other fishes present any example. They are inclosed beneath a 

 large operculum, tied down on all sides by a membrane which leaves only 

 a single small orifice for the exit of the water, and exhibiting in its thickness 

 only vestiges of rays. These fishes are also recognised by the scutellated 

 plates of mail which cover their body, and usually render it angular. They 

 are generally small, and almost without flesh. 



SYNGNATHUS, Linnceus -j- . 



The Syngnathi constitute a numerous genus, characterised by a tubular 

 snout, formed like that of the Fistularidae, by the pro- 

 longation of the ethmoid, vomer, tympanals, preoper- 

 cula, subopercula, &c. and terminated by an ordinary 

 mouth, but one that is cleft almost vertically on its extremity. The respiratory 

 aperture is near the nape ; and the ventrals are wanting. There is a pecu- 

 liarity in the production of these fishes, whose ova slip into a pouch formal 

 by an inflation of the skin, and are hatched there ; this pouch, in some, is 

 situated under the abdomen, and in others under the base of the tail ; it splits 

 spontaneously for the passage of the fry. 



There are three subgenera, viz. Hippocampus (the Sea-horse), Solenostomus, 

 and Pegasus. 



* Tufted gills. 



f From fin and yO-f (united jaws), a name composed by Artedi, who thought that 

 the tube of the snout of these fishes was formed by the union of their jaws. 



