CONCLUSION. 521 



of the boat, they do not swim away ; but, if the 

 parent-fish be restored to his native element, will 

 again enter the well-known refuge, as there only being 

 assured of safety and protection. 



In other species of Pipe-fish, such as the Syngnathus 

 Ophidian, neither male nor female possesses an abdo- 

 minal pouch ; but nevertheless the ova, after being 

 deposited by the female, are carried about for a time 

 by the male in separate hemispheric depressions on 

 the external surface of the abdomen, until they are 

 hatched. 



And now we must conclude our pleasing task ; but, 

 ere we say farewell to the frail glass and mimic ma- 

 sonry, the petty theatre in which we have endea- 

 voured to display so many perishable wonders, let us 

 pause awhile, if but to take a parting glance at the 

 amazing scene. 



These humble forms of life, though each of them 

 might well require a volume to elucidate its history, 

 were, most of them, but a few years ago, almost un- 

 known even to those whose study is to search out 

 Nature' s works. Let not the reader, then, suppose 

 the mine exhausted, or that nothing now remains to 

 lure attention or reward research ; the wonder is, how 

 little has been done ; how few the labourers that have 

 toiled in such an ample field ; or, should we rather 

 say, have left on record what they have observed ? 



It has often occurred to us, that one very important 

 cause of this paucity of original observation is to be 

 ascribed to a feeling of diffidence, natural enough in 



