FAMILY SYNGNATHIDiE SYNGNATHUS. 321 



THE GREEN PIPE-FISH. 



■• Syncnathus viridescens. 



PLATE LIV. FIG. 176. — (STATE COLLECTION.) 



Characteristics. Dark olive green above ; yellowish beneath. Length five to seven inches. 



Description. Body elongated, slender, and tapering to a fine point at the insertion of the 

 caudal fin. In recent specimens, it is hexangular before the verit or anal fin ; but in cabinet 

 specimens, a slight carina is observed in the middle of the belly. There are nineteen abdo- 

 minal plates anterior to the vent ; the first plate is pointed. Thirty-nine plates were counted 

 behind the anal fin. Head depressed between the superciliary ridges, with a carina in the 

 furrow, extending behind the eyes. Eyes proportionally large. Opercle large and rounded, 

 with radiating striaj. Jaws long, tubular, rounded, with a delicate ridge above. Mouth 

 small, vertical; lower jaw longest. No vestiges of teeth. 



The dorsal fin long and low ; the middle rays longest. It commences on the anterior third 

 of the body, and contains forty rays. The pouch, when present, is under the middle of this 

 fin. The pectorals small, obtusely pointed, and composed of fourteen rays ; its middle rays 

 longest. Anal, when present, minute, and of three rays. Caudal rounded. 



Color. Dark olive green above ; yellowish beneath, and beautifully resplendent with green 

 and gold on the sides and abdomen. These Colors rapidly disappear after death, and are suc- 

 ceeded by a uniform dull green. 



• 



Length, 5-0 -7-0. 



Fin rays, D. 40 ; P. 14 ; A. 3 ; C. 9. 



This species, except in color, is closely allied to the S.fuscus of Storer. It is very com- 

 mon in our waters, and is frequently taken as far up the Hudson as Sing-Sing, where it breeds 

 in the slightly brackish water. It keeps chiefly among the aquatic plants. 



It is now a well established fact, that after the ova of the females of this genus are excluded, 

 they are received and hatched in the pouches or false belly of the males. The males even 

 carry the living young in this pouch, after they have been hatched there. In some species, 

 the males have no pouch, but instead thereof, hemispherical depressions on the outer surface 

 of the abdomen, into which the eggs of the female are placed. 



{EXTRALIMITAL) 



S. fuscus. (Storer, 1. c. p. 162.) Dull brown; lighter beneath. D. 38; P. 13; A. 3; C. 9. Length 



six inches. Coast of Massachusetts. 

 S. pechianus. (Id. p. 163.) Olive brown, with transverse dusky bars ; golden yellow beneath. D. 45. 



Length sue to eight inches. Hab. with the preceding. 



Fauna — Part 4. 41 



