266 LOPHOBRANCHII. 



times absent), exist at the ends of the supraorbital spines, on those of the crest 

 and along the back nearly as far as the dorsal fin. Tubercles well developed on 

 the head and body, also along the back, and in the anterior two-thirds of the caudal 

 region, most distinct in the young. Fins — dorsal on a somewhat elevated base 

 and situated on three osseous rings. Anal distinct in the female with about 

 five rays. Colours — nearly black or dull olive, covered with small white or 

 bluish-white dots, which form bands on the cheeks. Dorsal fin with a black 

 inter-marginal band, which has a light inner and white outer edge ; the basal 

 two-thirds of each ray with three or more white spots. Mr. Saville Kent recorded 

 how some of these fishes received alive at the Manchester Aquarium from the 

 Mediterranean were bright red, others pale pink, bright or light yellow, and even 

 almost pure white, with many other interblending shades, but which tints 

 gradually disappeared when in confinement. It has also been remarked that the 

 tail is frequently white in prehensile forms. 



Names. — Sea-horse, from the appearance of its head : short-snouted sea-horse, to 

 distinguish it from an allied form. Gheval marin, French. 



Habits. — While swimming the body is kept in a -^'ertical position, and the 

 prehensile tail is turned about ready to seize any passing object, while it can 

 move its eyes each independently of the other. Their tails are likewise used 

 to cling to one another, and several thus attached raise themselves together in a 

 mass. I observed some rubbing their heads together, and even calling to one 

 another by a sort of cough. At the Westminster Aquarium they were fed on 

 sand hoppers, but the opossum shrimp is considered the best food. 



Breeding. — This fish does not appear to refuse breeding in Aquaria, as it did 

 so in 1860 at Vienna ; next in the Jardin des Plantes at Paris ; thii'dly, in the 

 Crystal Palace Aquarium, where their parents prevented them from suffering 

 future troubles by at once devouring them ; Mr. King has bred tbem in London 

 in Great Portland Street ; and lastly at the Manchester Aquarium, July 21st, 1873, 

 where Mr. Brittain observed on this day a young one rise upwards through the 

 water and swim about with great activity — vertically as is the custom of the 

 parent. It hovered about the top of the water, occasionally descending an inch 

 or two and again soon returning to the top as if for air. During the day 13 left 

 the pouch of the parent, and on the two subsequent days more, until the number 

 amounted to above 200. They were not observed to again enter the pouch. The 

 young bred in confinement do not appear to have ever been reared. Mr. 

 Lockwood considers that the embryos are nourished by the fat deposited in 

 the walls of the pouch, which becomes considerably thinner as the embryos grow. 

 Dr. Giinther, on the contrary, believes it more probable that the walls become 

 thinner in consequence of the increasing pressure of the growing contents of the 

 pouch. Mr. Ryder, " Bulletin of the United States Pish Commission," 1881-82, 

 p. 191, has given an elaborate account of the development of this fish. 



Habitat. — Temperate and warm portions of Europe through the MediteiTanean, 

 also the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to Australia and Japan. One obtained dead 

 in the Orkneys (W. Baikie, Zool. 1853, p. 3847) ; two cast ashore at Banff after 

 a severe storm (Edward) ; three times at Whitby, and once at Bridlington (York- 

 shire Vertebrata). Yarmouth (Paget) ; has been frequently taken along the 

 Sandwich Plats in Kent. Devonshire, one specimen (Parfitt). Hampshire 

 (Walcott). Dillwyn says the specimen he gave Yarrell came from Dorsetshire, 

 not Swansea. Common in Guernsey. 



Ireland. — Dublin Bay, Antrim, Belfast Bay, Youghal and probaby in other 

 localities. "Dublin Bay is a pet locality of this curious species. Many were 

 found dead among the sea-weed last winter " (J. Blake-Knox, Zool. 1866, 

 p. 508). 



The specimen, figured life size, was one among many which were captured in 

 Guernsey in 1879, and kept for some time alive in the Westminster Aquarium. 

 But on Sept. 15th, by an accident, much hot steam was turned on which 

 occasioned the death of the whole of them. 1 am indebted to Mr. Cariington, f.l.s., 

 for several specimens. 



