M. Fries on the Genus Syngnathus. 97 



developed, and hatched, and in which the young in their tender 

 state find a sure protection, has obtained for this genus of late 

 a greater attention than would else have probably been the 

 case. The Royal Swedish Academy contains in its Acts this 

 beautiful discovery of C. M. Eckstrom, as also the anatomical 

 observations of A. Retzius, which, besides explaining various 

 interesting details respecting the internal structure of these 

 fish, confirmed the above discovery*. 



If I at present recall the attention of the Academy to this 

 genus, it is with a view to submit to a systematical exami- 

 nation the species which are admitted in our native Fauna 

 and into that of England, to add to a distinct knowledge of 

 the species by the publication of the results of my personal 

 observations, and to endeavour to reduce the synonymy and 

 nomenclature to a state of better arrangement than that in 

 which I have found it in my predecessors. 



It is not uncommon to find in the field of natural history 

 one and the same subject described under many different 

 names, and this can hardly be avoided in the progress of the 

 science. This however is easily discovered, and as soon rec- 

 tified. But the confounding of well-known and generally 

 adopted names is of much more importance and more apt to 

 cause errors, as such confusion easily escapes the attention of 

 others, and requires for its rectification a long and tedious com- 

 parison of authors. With the genus Syngnathus it is not only 

 in the old works that we find such errors admitted, but also in 

 the most recent, which renders a revision of the species of this 

 genus the more necessary. 



The genus Syngnathus, conceived according to the views of 

 Cuvier, forms two subdivisions quite natural, which may most 

 easily be known by the species of the one possessing pectoral 

 fins, while they are missing in all the species forming the se- 

 cond subdivision. To designate the first I shall adopt the Swe- 

 dish provincial name, and will call them Tangsnallor (on ac- 

 count of their quick motions among Algae), and retain for the 



• Latterly Mr. Yarrell has stated that the same discovery was made in 

 1785 by an Englishman of the name of Walcott, recorded in his unpublished 

 manuscript. 



Ann. Nat. Hist. Vol. 2. No. 8. Oct, 1838. h 



