SEA-HORSE. 



261 



numbers in their magnificent fish-ponds, decorated them with jewels, and 

 taught them to come at the sound of their masters' voice. Ilirrias was the 

 first to consecrate fish-ponds exclusively to Muraenae, and he caused six thou- 

 sand of these fishes to be served up at an entertainment given to Caesar when 

 he was made Dictator. 



The Gymnoti* have the gill-openings in front of the pectoral fins, and 

 partially closed by a membrane. One of them,, 



The Gymnotns Elecrnciis, or Electric Bel, is celebrated on account of the violent 

 electric shocks it has the power of communicating at will. 



The electric apparatus extends all along the back and tail, and consists of four longi- 

 tudinal series of cells filled by a gelatinous matter, and supplied with very large nerves. 

 These formidable fishes are so common in South America, that the roads are sometimes 

 rendered impassable owing to the number of them infesting the streams that have to be 

 crossed. As water is a conductor of electricity, a person may be struck at some distance, 

 and small fishes are killed even at a distance of fifteen feet. 



TUFT-GILLED FlSHES. ORDER LOPHOBRAXCHI.f 



Distinguished by the branchiae which, instead of being pecti- 

 nate that is, having the 

 form of the teeth of a comb, 

 as is ordinarily the case 

 are divided into small round 

 tufts, arranged in pairs along 



the branchial arches. These _ v . M^. "" / 



curious gills are enclosed \ m 1 \ Hfev 



under a large operculum, 

 attached on all sides by a 

 membrane, and having only 

 a small hole for the escape 

 of water. The Lophobran- 

 chiate fishes are also to be 

 recognized by the mail-like 

 plates that cover the body, 

 and render it angular in 

 shape : they are of small 

 size. To this Order belong FlG . a79 .- SEA _HoR SE . 



The Sea-Horses (Hippocampus} J : their body is laterally compressed 

 and more elevated than the tail. When dried after death, the bead and trunk 

 bear some resemblance to those of a horse in miniature, which has obtained 

 for this little fish the name of Sea-Horse. 



* yvfi*6s, gymnos, naked; VUJTOS, notos, the back. 



f* X60os, lophos, a tit ft ; ppdvxta, branchia, gills: having tufted gills. 



tTTTros, hippos, a horse ; Kd/j.irr), campe, a ('cutting. 



