syngnathid^e. 257 



A. Tail not prehensile (Syngnathina). 

 Genus I — Siphonostoma, Kaup. 

 Body with more or less distinct ridges : the dorsal ridge of the trunk ceasing 

 opposite the hind end of the bach fin, and the lateral ridge of the body being 

 continuous with the upper caudal edge. Humeral bones movable and not united 

 into a breast ring. Pectoral and caudal fins present. An egg-pouch on the tail of 

 the males, the eggs being covered by cutaneous folds. 



Moreau has found the lateral-line in Siphonostoma typhle occasionally 

 interrupted, which I have not observed in numerous British examples. 



Geographical distribution. — Coasts of Europe. 



1. Siphonostoma typhle, Plate CXLIV, fig. 3. 



Acus Aristotelis, Johnson, Pise. p. 57, t. xv, f . 14 ; Willughby, p. 158, t. i, 25, 

 f. 1 ; Salvian. fol. 68, pi. Pvii. Typhle marina, Belon. De Aquat. p. 446 ; Ray, p. 

 46. Syngnathus, sp. Artedi, Syn. p. 1, no. 2, Gen. p. 1, no. 4, Species, p. 2, no. 2. 



Syngnathus typhle, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 416 ; Bonn. Ency. Ich. p. 30, pi. 

 xxi, f. 70 ; Donov. Brit. Fish, iii, pi. lvi ; Turton, British Fauna, p. 116 ; Flem. 

 Brit. Anim. p. 175 ; Jenyns, Manual, p. 485 ; Tarrell, Brit. Fish. (ed. 1) ii, p. 

 332, c. fig. (ed. 2) ii, p. 439 (ed. 3) ii, p. 406 ; Parnell, Wern. Mem. vii, p. 396 ; 

 Fries. Wiegm. Arch. 1838, p. 241, t. vi, f. 2 ; Risso, Ich. Nice, p. 62 and Eur. 

 Merid. iii, p. 178; Swainson, ii, p. 333 ; Kroyer, Damn. Fiske, iii, p. 673, c. fig. ; 

 White, Catal. p. 42 ; Thompson, Pro. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 58 and Nat. Hist. Ire. 

 iv, p. 240 ; Malm, Wiegm. Arch. 1864, p. 343 ; Nilss. Skan. Faun, iv, p. 689. 



Syngnathus acus, Ekstr. Fische Morko, p. 123, t. vi, f. 1, 2. 



Syngnathus typhloides, Bennett, Pro. Zool. Soc. 1835, p. 92. 



Siphonostoma typhle, Kaup, Lopho. p. 49 ; Yarrell, Brit. Fish. (ed. 3) ii, p. 

 406 ; Giinther, Catal. viii, p. 154 ; Mcintosh, Fish. N. Uist, Proc. Roy. Soc. Edin. 

 v, 1862-66, p. 614 ; A. Dumeril, Hist. Nat. ii, p. 576 ; Winther, Prod. Dan. Mar. 

 p. 52 ; Moreau, Poissons de la France, ii, p. 55, fig. 87. 



Broad-nosed pipe-fish, Couch, Fishes British Isles, iv, p. 355, pi. ccxxxix, 

 fig. 2. 



D. 38-46, P. 15, V. 4, C. 9-10. Osseous plates, 18-19 + 36-37 (17-19 + 36-42, 

 Donovan). 



Length of head 6 to 6|-, of body including head 2i to %\ in the total length. 

 Eyes — 3 diameters in the postorbital portion of the head, 4^ in the length of the 

 snout, and % to 1 diameter apart. Snout much compressed, and nearly as deep 

 as the postorbital portion of the head : cleft of mouth nearly vertical. A raised 

 ridge passes across the opercle, which is roughened in irregular lines, passing 

 downwards and backwards. A low and short ridge along the occiput. Fins — 

 dorsal commences a little in front of the vent and on 10 to 12 rings, the rays 

 divided r.ear their outer ends. The length of the base of the dorsal fin is 

 considerably longer (Dumeril says of equal length) than that of the snout, 

 whereas in S. argenteus and S. Rondeletii it is shorter. Ventral with 4 rays 

 situated in the male at the front end of the egg sac and a little posterior to the 

 vent in females. The lateral-line runs into the upper caudal ridge, while 

 the dorsal ridge does not run into the upper caudal ridge. Air-bladder — ■ 

 comparatively large. The abdomen of the male is much broader than that of 

 the female and furnished on either side with a cutaneous flap which meet 

 along the central line and form a receptacle for the ova. Colour — dark brown, 

 with numerous light spots along the under surface of the head and body. 



Names and origin. — " Broad-nosed pipe-fish," due to its great depth, almost 

 equalling the height of the head. At Aberdeen pipe-fishes are known as young 

 green-beans, i.e , young gar-fish. 



17 



