I 9 2 BACKBONED ANIMALS. 



stoma y an allied form of the Indian Ocean, the mother carries her eggs 

 in a pouch formed by the ventral fins, they being held in place by long 

 filaments extending from its sides. 



FIG. 234. Sea-horse {Phyllopteryx eqttes), that is protected by its resem- 

 blance to sea-weed. 



Order VIII. Plectognathi. General Characteristics. 

 In these fishes the scales are often modified into spines 

 or plates. The ventral fins are generally absent. 



File-Fishes (jBaftstid<z).The file-fishes are remark- 

 ably deep and thin, and are often protected by plates 



or spines re- 

 sembling those 

 of the Ganoids. 

 Allied are the 

 trunk - fish e s 

 (Fig. 235) (Os- 

 iracionidcR) ) that 

 are inclosed in 



a box or armor composed of bony plates or scales ; the 

 tail, mouth, and fins being the only parts movable. 



FIG. 235. Trunk-fish (Ostracion Yalei). 



