THE DEEP-NOSED PIPE-FISH. 307 



the caudal fin ; summit of the head not carinated or raised above the 

 level of the back ; eyes rather small, the space between flat ; a small 

 obtuse tubercle in front of each eye, from which extends a narrow 

 line to the point of the upper jaw ; extremity of the snout as deep 

 as the head ; under jaw shortest, ascending obliquely to meet the 

 upper ; the lower margin rounded. Gill-opening small, situated above 

 the upper and posterior border of the operculum ; gill-covers large, 

 finely granulated and striated, approximating under the throat ; teeth 

 not perceptible ; snout compressed, especially towards the extremity, 

 where it takes a slight turn up. Body protected by fifty-three osse- 

 ous plates, beautifully marked with fine striated lines. Dorsal fin 

 situated rather nearer the tip of the tail than to the point of the 

 snout ; the middle rays rather the longest ; the base of the fin as long 

 as from the tip of the lower jaw to the posterior margin of the orbit ; 

 caudal fin twice the length of the pectorals ; the middle ray about 

 twice the length of the two first lateral rays ; when expanded it pre- 

 sents at the end an angular form. Vent placed in a line under the 

 third ray of the dorsal, and immediately in front of the anal fin, which 

 is excessively minute, composed of only three rays ; centrals wanting. 

 In the male there is a long longitudinal slit or pouch, extending a 

 considerable way down the body, and commencing close behind the 

 vent. Number of fin rays — 

 D. 36; P. 13; A. 3; C. 9. 



Some naturalists have very erroneously considered S. 

 typhle and S. acus as mere varieties of the same fish. In 

 S. typhle the twelfth ray of the dorsal fin is situated ex- 

 actly in the middle of the fish ; the head is not raised above 

 the level of the back ; between the eyes, perfectly flat ; the 

 upper margins of the orbits not in the slightest degree 

 raised ; the pectorals not half the length of the caudal ; base 

 of the dorsal fin considerably less than the length of the 

 head ; the caudal fin angular at the end ; the body with but 

 fifty-three osseous shields. Whereas in S. acus the last 

 ray of the dorsal fin is in the middle of the fish ; the head 

 very much raised over the gill-covers ; between the eyes a 

 deep depression, formed by the upper margins of the orbits 

 being much raised ; pectorals about the length of the cau- 

 dal ; base of the dorsal fin equalling the length of the head ; 



