CHAPTER VII 



PIPE- FISHES, SEA-HORSES, GLOBE-FISHES, SUN-FISHES, AND THEIR ALLIES 



BY W. P. PYCRAFT, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 



THE fishes described in the present chapter form two well-marked groups, known as 

 the Ti KT-<;ILLED and the COMB-GILLED FISHES, on account of the peculiar arrange- 

 ment of the gills, or breathing-organs; they are also remarkable for their peculiar 

 shapes. The breast-fins are present in all; but in three of the families the second pair 

 of fins, corresponding to the hind limbs of the higher animals, are wanting. 



TheTl'FT-GILLEiil I-HI s 

 are represented by two families 

 theMAii.Kh TUSK-MI n i us 

 and the I'lrK-i-ismx and SKA- 

 HOK-KS, all of which have 

 undergone very considerable 

 modification of form, thebo.iy 

 being encased in mail-like 

 armour, whilst the jaws are 

 toothless and produced into 

 a long tube. 



The first family is com- 

 posed of a few small fishes 

 from the Indian Ocean. 

 Grotesque in appearance, they 

 are remarkable also for the 

 fact that the female takes 

 sole charge not only of the 

 eggs, which are exceedingly 

 minute, but the young fry 

 also. Only one other fish is 



known in which the care of the eggs and young is undertaken by the female: this is one 

 of the Cat-fishes, described in a later chapter. The eggs in the Tuu:-M< UTIIS are carried 

 in a pouch formed by the union of the inner borders of the ventral tins, which are long and 

 broad. For the retention of the eggs within the pouch its wall develops long filaments, which 

 serve the purpose of slender finger*. 



The second of these families contains the Pil-K-i i-!ll> and SKA-HOKSKS. They are -mall 

 marine fishes, inhabiting the seas of tropical and temperate regions wherever there i- Miiticient 

 vegetation to offer shelter, for they are peculiarly defence!* <.- creatures. They possess Imt 

 feeble powers of swimming, and consequently are not seldom borne away by strong currents 

 far out to sea or on to distant shores. Their method of locomotion is, indeed, quite different 

 from that of other fishes, as they progress neither by undulatory motions of the body nor by 

 powerful strokes of the tail, but by wriggling in the case of the pipe-fishes, or vibrating motions 

 of the back-fin in the sea-hor- 



The long, semi-cylindrical Fill -i i-m>, partly on account of their peculiar form and colour, 

 and partly on account of their swaying motions, so closely resemble the fronds of seaweed 



238 



fiui, . A. $. RudUnJ V Stnl 



GLOBE-FISH 



> tke formidable armature o/ifinei, km-uin alu at the Sea-hedgclug 



Fr,, 



