BONY FISHES 297 



Allied Species. 



The Haddock (G. ceglefinus) resembles the cod in body structure, 

 mode of life and distribution. Its colour is, however, lighter, and it is 

 easily recognised by its sickle- shaped first dorsal fin, the black lateral 

 line, and the dark spot over the pectoral fin. It is placed on the market 

 both fresh and smoked ; the flesh has a pleasant flavour, but soon 

 acquires a disagreeable smell. In cooking, the flesh of the cod and 

 haddock can be easily separated in flakes or leaves. 



The Sea-Horse (Hippocampus antiquorum). 



(Length up to 7 inches.) 



This peculiar fish lives on the coasts of the Mediterranean and 

 Atlantic ocean. It is rare on British coasts. The fish has its habitat 

 amid the forest of seaweed which lines the coast. Here, resting quietly 

 with its finless prehensile tail (compare with chameleon) twisted round 

 the stalk of a piece of seaweed, it is completely hidden from view amid 

 the confused mass of marine vegetation, its elongated, brown-coloured 

 body, covered with scutes, which project into spines and tubercles, giving 

 the fish a striking resemblance to a piece of seaweed. By means of a 

 trembling movement of the transparent dorsal and pectoral fins it pro- 

 gresses slowly, somewhat after the fashion of a small screw steamer. 

 The head, which bears some likeness to that of a horse (hence its name) 

 is protracted into a long tubular mouth, through which the animal sucks 

 up its food (i.e., all kinds of minute animals). The male is provided with 

 a peculiar brood pouch, having the form of a bladder-like swelling, and 

 situated on the abdominal surface near the base of the tail. Into this 

 sac the eggs are deposited by the female, and here they undergo their 

 development. The branchial leaflets in this species are not long and 

 narrow, as in most others of the bony fishes, but broad, and resembling 

 a feather or leaf in shape (Lophobranchii = tuft-gilled). 



ORDER II. : ENAMEL-SCALED FISHES (GANOIDEI). 



Skeleton more or less cartilaginous. The scales or bony dermal plates 

 overlapping and coated with enamel. Opercula present. 



The Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio). 



(Length up to 18 feet.) 



The sturgeon is a migratory fish. It inhabits all the European seas 

 with the exception of the Black Sea and Caspian, but in spring travels 



