38 FISH AND FISH-LIKE ANIMALS OF N.S.W., ' 



An ornate species which is not uncommon, and is usually found washed up on 

 beaches after storms. Length 16 inches. 



99. Solegnathus Swainsou, Nat. Hist. Fish. &c. ii, 1839, p. 333 (hardwickii). 

 A. Dorsal edges of body and tail continuous. hardwickii (99a). 

 AA. Mediolateral ridge of body continuous with the dorsal edge of the tail. 



B. Scutes convex and intensely spiny. spinosissimus (99b) . 



BB. Scutes flatter, rugose, with one spine. fascia/us (99c). 



99a. S. hardwickii. Syngnathus hardwickii Gray, lllustr. Ind. Zool.. 1830, 

 pi. 6, 3. Solenognathus hardwickii Waite, P.L.S.N.S.W. (2) ix, 

 1894, p. 221, pi. 17, 2-4-7. 

 A tropical species, not common in this State. Length 18 inches. 



99b. S. spinosissimus. Spiny Seahorse. Id, Grthr., Brit. Mus. Cat. Fish viii. 

 1870, p. 195; Id. Waite, P.L.S.N.S.W. (2) ix, 1894, p. 222, pi. 17, 



5-8. 

 Not uncommonly washed up on coastal beaches after storms. Length 18 

 inches. 



99c. S. fasciatus. Id. Gthr.. Challenger Zool. i, 1880, p. 30, pi. 14, b (PL 

 ix). 

 Perhaps synonymous with the preceding species. 



100. Hippocampus Rafinesque, Carrat. Gen. Spec. Sicilia, 1810. p. 18 (hippo- 



campus). 

 A. Dorsal with 28-31 rays. abdominalis (100a). 



AA. Dorsal with less than 21 rays. 



B. Snout at least half as long as the head- novae-hollanidae (100b). 



BB. Snout less than half the length of the hsad. breviceps (100c l. 



100a. H. abdominalis. Seahorse. Id. Lesson in Ferussac, Bull. Sci. Nat. 

 xi, 1827, p. 127; Id. McCulloch, Zool. Res. Endeavour i. 1, 1911. p. 29, pi. 

 Ii. 1-2 (PI. x). 

 Our largest species of the genus. Length about 10 inches when extended. 



100b. H. novae-hollandlae. Seahorse. Id. Steindacluier, Sb. Akad. Wiss. 



Wien liii, 1806, p. 474, pi. 1. 2 (Fl. x). 

 Common among weeds in Port Jackson. 



100c. H. breviceps. Short-snouted Seahorse. Id. Peters, Mb. Akad. Ber- 

 lin 18G9, p. 710; Id. McCoy, Prodr. Zool. Vict. dec. vi. 1S82, pi. 55, 2. 

 Ogilby's record of this southern species from Port Jackson requires verifica- 

 tion. No specimen from this State is in the Australian Museum. 



Dragon Fishes— Order HYPOSTOMIDES. 

 Body encased in bony ring's. Snout produced but not tubuliform. 



LY1. Family Pegasidae. 



A. Tail shorter, quadrangular posteriorly. Pegasus (101). 



AA. Tail longer, flattened posteriorly. Parapegasus (102). 



101. Pegasus Linn., Syst. Nat. 10th cd., 1758, p. 338 (volitans). 



101a. P. volitans. Dragon Fish. . Id. Linn., Op. cit. Zalises umitengu 

 Jord. & Snyder, P. U.S. Nat. Mus. xxiv, 1901, p. 2, pi. 1, 2 (PI. x) . 

 A single specimen from Port Jackson, having nine rays in each pectoral fin, 

 has been called P. pauciradiatus by Ogilby. Length 2 inches. 



