840 



SYNGNATHID.E. 



LOPHOBRANCHII. 



SYNGNATHIDyE. 



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THE WORM PIPE-FISH. 



Syngnathus lumbriciformis, Worm Pipe-fish, Jenyns, Man. Brit. Vert. p. 488, 



sp. 176. 

 Acus lumbriciformis, Willughby, p. 160. 



Syngnathus ophidion., Little Pipe-fish, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 187, 



pi. 26, No. 62. 

 „ „ „ „ Flem. Brit. An. p. 176, sp. 39. 



The Worm-like Pipe-fish is tlie smallest of the British 

 species, and is taken on various parts of the coast. Mr. Low 

 describes it as found at Orkney under stones ; and Mr. Couch 

 finds it in similar situations on the coast of Cornwall, where 

 it is considered common. 



Pennant has figured this species with the ova attached to 

 the under and external surface of the abdomen, as in the 

 species last described. There is little doubt that the young 

 are produced in the same mode as in the other species be- 

 longing to this division of the genus, and that the same 

 sexual peculiarities exist. Pennant, not aware of the singu- 

 lar interchange which takes place, says, very naturally, " On 

 the belly of the female is a long hollow, to which adhere the 

 eggs disposed in three rows." 



This species does not exceed five inches or five inches and 

 a half in length, and the wood-engraving at the head of the 



