90 FISH GALLERY. 



found in Great Britain, A. vulgaris and A. latirostris. The 

 Congers (Conger) are marine Eels, differing from the preceding in 

 the absence of scales; the common British species (C. conger) seems 

 to be almost cosmopolitan. The genus Murcena and its allies are 

 abundantly represented in the tropical and subtropical seas, and 

 mostly beautifully coloured and spotted. The majority are armed 

 with formidable pointed teeth, well suited for seizing other fish on 

 which they prey ; in shallow water they readily attack persons who 

 happen to disturb them in their retreat. The Mediterranean species 

 (M. helena, fig. 77) was highly prized by the ancient Romans. 



Order V. LOPHOBRANCHII. 



The Lophobranchii are bony fishes in which the gills are not 

 laminated, but composed of small rounded lobes attached to the 

 branchial arches ; the gill-cover is reduced to a large simple plate ; 



Fig. 78. 



Lobular gill of Hippocampus. 



the air-bladder is simple, without pneumatic duct ; a dermal 

 skeleton, composed of numerous pieces arranged in segments, 

 replaces more or less soft integuments; the muscular system is not 

 much developed ; the snout is prolonged, and the mouth terminal, 

 small, toothless, formed as in Acanthopterygians. 

 [Case 27.] This Order (Case 27) contains only two families, Solenostomidte 

 and Syngnathidce. They are small marine fishes, which are abundant 

 on such parts of the coasts of tropical and temperate zones as offer 

 by their vegetation shelter to these defenceless creatures. They are 

 bad swimmers, and are frequently and resistlessly carried by currents 

 into the open ocean or to distant coasts. All enter brackish water, 

 some fresh water. The males of most of the species carry the eggs 



