234 THE INHABITANTS OF THE SEA. 



for the power they possess of attaching themselves to stones 

 or rocks by means of an adhesive disk on the under surface 

 of their bodies, and in several other fishes. 



When imprisoned in an aquarium, few subjects of the deep 

 display more intelligence or afford more entertainment than 

 the little Hippocampus brevirostris, or Sea-Horse. 



"While swimming about," says Mr. Lukis,* "it maintains 

 a vertical position, but the tail, ready to grasp whatever meets it 

 in the water, quickly entwines itself in 

 any direction round the weeds, and, 

 when fixed, the animal intently watches 

 the surrounding objects, and darts at its 

 sea-Horse. prey with great dexterity. When two 



of them approach each other, they often twist their tails together, 

 and struggle to separate or attach themselves to the weeds ; this 

 is done by the under part of their c"heeks or chin, which is also 

 used for raising the body when a new spot is wanted for the tail 

 to fasten upon afresh." 



" In captivity," says Mr. Gosse, "the manners of the Worm 

 Pipe-Fish (Syngnathus lambriciformis), the, smallest of our 

 native species, are amusing and engaging. Its beautiful eyes 

 move independently of each other, like those of the chameleon, 

 .and another point of resemblance to that animal our little pipe- 

 fish presents in the prehensile character of its tail. It curves 

 just the tip of this organ laterally round the stem or frond of 

 some sea-weed and holds on by this half-inch or so, while the 

 rest of its body roves to and fro, elevating and depressing the 

 head and fore parts, and throwing the body into the most grace- 

 ful curves. All the motions of the Pipe-fish manifest much 

 intelligence. It is a timid little thing, retiring from the side 

 of the glass at which it had been lying when one approaches, 

 and hiding under the shadow of the sea-weeds, which I have 

 put in, both to afford it shelter, and also to supply food in the 

 numerous animalcules that inhabit these marine plants. Then 

 it cautiously glides among their bushy fronds, and from under 

 their shelter peeps with its brilliant ej'es at the intruder as if 

 wondering what he can be, drawing back gently at any alarm- 

 ing motion. In swimming, it is constantly throwing its body 



* Yarrell, "British Fishes," 3rd edition, vol. ii. p. 396, 



