PISHES. 



221 



one, that nearest the head is distinguished as " the first 

 dorsal." Those near the gills, on what might he called the 

 shoulders of the fish, are the "pectoral,"* and the pair 

 nearest to them, hut on the lower surface of the hody, are of 

 course the "ventral."! Thus the fins, in all cases, are 

 named from the part of the hody to which they are attached. 

 We had last summer, 1846, an opportunity of observing 

 the capability of the fins and tail, in enabling a fish to 

 achieve a movement of a very unusual kind. We had taken 

 in a towing-net one of the Pipe-fishes (Syngnathus acus 

 Fig. 182), which had been swimming near the surface, and 

 had placed it in a basin of sea-water. \ One of the long- 



Fig. 182. PIPE-FISH. 



bodied Crustacea, which are abundant during fine weather, and 

 had been captured at the same time, was placed in the same 

 vessel. It was a species of Gammants,$ and about an inch 

 in length. The Gammarus would seem to have got tired of 



* Latin, pectoralis, of or belonging to the chest. 



t Venter, ventris, the belly. The fin or fins between the tail and the 

 vent are called the " anal." 



J Among the pleasant circumstances connected with the preparation of 

 this little book, I reckon the kindness with which my efforts have been 

 encouraged and assisted. Among those to whom my obligations are thus 

 due, I must make especial mention of Mr. Yarrell and Mr. Van Voorst, 

 by whose liberality I have been per- 

 mitted to copy some of the beau- 

 tiful illustrations of the *' British 

 Fishes. 1 ' They are the figures 

 numbered 182, 183, 191, 194 

 195, 204 K. P. 



Its appearance will be best 

 understood by the annexed figure 

 of Gammarus locnsta. 



VOL. II. B 



