GREAT PIPE-FISH. 327 



ranged in two divisions ; the first of which includes two 

 species, having dorsal, pectoral, anal, and caudal fins ; the 

 three species of the second division possess the dorsal fin 

 only : neither of the five species possess ventral fins. The 

 mode in which the young are produced is very singular, but 

 very different in the two divisions, which will be explained 

 when describing the species. 



The natural history of the Syngnathi appears not to have 

 been so well understood, nor the species so clearly defined 

 by the older authors as those of many other genera. By 

 giving, in this work, figures taken from the specimens, and 

 adding besides, as vignettes, enlarged representations of 

 those parts which assist in determining specific distinction, 

 five species, it is hoped, will be made out; and only 

 those actually obtained on the British coast, and of which 

 specimens are preserved, will be included. They are all 

 marine. 



Syngnathus acus, or the Great Pipe-fish, is one of the 

 most common species, and is found on many parts of the 

 coast, sometimes at low- water among seaweed, at other times 

 in deep water. It is believed that the habit of proceeding 

 to deep water at two different periods of the season has re- 

 ference to important and interesting changes connected with 

 the production of the young. 



In a MS. History of British Fishes, written by the late 

 John Walcott, Esq.* during his residence at Teignmouth 

 in the years 1784 and 85, and which has been most kindly 

 lent to me by his son, William Walcott, Esq. with liberty 

 to make any use of it in the present work, I found a state- 

 ment in reference to the sexes of S. acus, which has since 

 been confirmed by four Continental naturalists, and which 



* Author of various published works on Natural History. 



