THE HORSE-LIKE PHYLLOPTEBYX. 



291 



dorsal fin, set far back, and capable of being moved in a marvellous fashion, that reminds the 

 observer of a screw-propeller, and evidently answers a similar purpose. The tail of the Sea- 

 Horse, stiff as it appears to be in dried specimens, is, during the life of the creature, almost as 

 flexible as an elephant's proboscis, and is employed as a prehensile oryan, whereby its owner 

 may be attached to any fixed object. The specimens represented in the engraving are shown 

 in the attitude which the creatures are fond of assuming. The head of the Sea-Horse is 

 wonderfully like that of the quadruped from which it takes its name, and the resemblance is 

 increased by two apparent ears that project pertly from the sides of the neck. These organs, 

 are, however, fins, and when the fish is in an active mood, are moved with considerable 

 rapidity. It is rather a. remarkable fart, that the Sea-Horse, like the chameleon, possesses the 

 power of moving either eye at will, quite independently of the other, and therefore must be 

 gifted with some curious modification in the sense of sight, which enables it to direct its gaze 

 to different objects without confusing its vision. 



The color of this interesting little fish is light ashen-brown, relieved with slight dashes of 

 blue on different parts of the body, and in certain lights gleaming with beautiful iridiscent 



GKEAT PIPE OR BILL, -FISH.- Syngnathus acus. SEA-HORSE. —Mppocampus antiguorum. (One-half natural size.1 



hues that play over its body with a changeful lustre. About twenty species of Sea-Horses are 

 known. 



In the seas of the Southern Hemisphere, especially in the New Holland waters, there is 

 found sometimes, as a companion of the Sea-Horse, sometimes alone, the House-like 

 Phylloptektx, a fish which, for its extraordinarily odd aspect, we consider worthy of 

 illustration. This fish, in which are united all the exclusive peculiarities of the family 

 Syngnathidae, forms a separate genus. As may be seen by reference to the engraving, it 

 is distinguished by many spines, elongated thorns, and tape-like appendages, which float down 

 from all parts of the body. The spines are strong and sharp, the elongated thorns being stiff, 

 while the tape-like streamers are flexible. These three different kinds of appendages take 

 seemingly the function of fins, which, with the exception of the large dorsal fin, and of the 

 small and not clearly visible pectoral fin. are crippled. Its streaming; filaments resemble 



