THE GREAT PIPE-FISH. 169 



two folding membranes, and in which the eggs 

 deposited by the female are hatched, although 

 the time and mode in which they are tran^erred 

 to this receptacle is unkno-wn. Unlike most 

 fish, the pouched pipe-fishes are strongly 

 attached to their yovmg, and Avhen danger 

 threatens, the pouch serves them as a place of 

 retreat. Of these fishes, the great pipe-fish 

 {^Syngnatlius acus) is one of the most common, 

 and is often Kept by the fishermen in a dried 

 state to sell as a curiosity to sea-side visitors. 

 It is from one to two feet in length, when fully 

 grown, and is of a pale yellowish brown, with 

 dark and broad bands at regular intervals. 

 " This species," says Mr. Couch, " may be seen 

 slowly moving about, in a singular manner, 

 horizontally or perpendicularly, with the head 

 downwards or upwards, and in every attitude 

 of contortion in search of food, which seems 

 chiefly to be water insects." Mr. Yarrell 

 observes, that these fishes "are supposed to be 

 able, by dilating their throat at pleasure, to 

 draw their food up their cylindrical beak-like 

 mouth, as water is drawn up the pipe of a 

 syringe." The male of this species is furnished 

 with a pouch. 



Closely allied to the pipe-fishes are the 

 Hippocampi, of which one species the short- 



f2 



