4 ee ey oe 
ae 
Fishes of M: assachusetts. 5 ii . 
tie 
H. brevirostris. Cuv. The sjort dain Sea-horse. | 
Trans. Lit, et Philosoph. Soc. N- OL i p. 475522 V 
Yarrell's British Fishes, vol. ii. p. 342, et fig. ^ 
De m" 
A sirigle line is devoted to the description of this 
species by Mitchell in his “ Fishes of New York." 
The only native specimen 1 have seen, was receiv- 
ed in a dried state from my friend Dr. Yale, who 
found it on the shore at Holmes Hole. He says 
he *never knew one to be taken alive, yet they 
are frequently found on the shore." From this 
female specimen, I have drawn up the following 
description : 
Color, yellowish brown ; entire length five inches. 
Length of the Aead, one inch ; snout, three lines 
long ; diameter of the eye, half aline. Operculum 
covered with strie radiating from the anterior part ; 
a short spine, at the base of the snout in front of 
the eye; directly above each eye, a larger spine; 
at the posterior angle of the eye, a very short spine ; 
beneath the eye, on the neck, two small spines. 
Body heptangular; on each side, three rows of 
prominent spines; on the under side, a single row. 
Tail quadrangular, gradually tapering towards the 
extremity. The body is divided into eleven seg- - 
ments, bounded by horny projections ; greatest width | T i 
of the body, seven lines. At the origin of the P "s 
tail, the body presentsa slight projection, for the 5 
length of three segments, upon which is situated the de 
dorsal fin. "Tail divided into thirty-six segments ; 
at the base, two lines i in width ; at the extremity a 
mere point. 
PS 
