THE GREAT PIPE-FISH. 171 



subjects of the deep have displayed in prison 

 more sport or more intelligence. 



" When swimming about they maintain a 

 vertical position, but the tail is ready to grasp 

 whatever it meets in the water, quickly 

 entwines in any direction round the weeds, and 

 when fixed the animal intently watches the 

 surrounding, objects, and darts at its prey with 

 great dexterity. 



" When both approach each other, they often 

 twist their tails together, and struggle to sepa- 

 rate or attach themselves to the weeds ; this is 

 done by the hinder part of their cheeks, or 

 chin, which is also used for raising the body 

 when a new spot is wanted for the tail to 

 entwine afresh. The eyes move independently, 

 as in the chameleon ; this, with the brilliant 

 irridescence about the head, and its blue bands, 

 forcibly remind the observer of that animal." 



The general colour of this fish is a pale 

 brown, with changeable irridescence, and vari- 

 able tints of blue. The males are furnished 

 with a pouch. Total length, about five inches. 



Cuvier terms his sixth order of osseous fishes, 

 Plectognathi, from the imperfection of their 

 jaws, the bones of which are firmly attached to 

 the palate bones. The general structure of the 

 skeleton is not so hard as in most other osseous 



