Syngnathus. gangetic fishes. 13 



brane of the gill-covers has two rays, and closes entirely the 

 aperture, adhering firmly by its whole edge. 



The back is straight and concave, edged on each side by a 

 ridge, which is notched at each joint. The sides are edged in 

 the same manner with the back, each forming an obtuse angle 

 in the middle. The belly is straight, and like the sides has an 

 obtuse angle in the middle. The four acute edges run along 

 the tail, the three obtuse ones terminate at the vent, which is 

 near the middle. On each side are two lateral lines, both 

 straight, and one placed above, while the other is below the 

 obtuse angle of the side. The former terminates at the end of 

 the dorsal fin, the latter before the vent. 



The back fin occupies three joints of the back and seven of 

 the tail ; and contains fifty undivided rays. The pectoral fins 

 are very small, rounded, and near the middle of the side in 

 respect to height. Each contains sixteen rays. The tail fin 

 is rounded, and contains nine rays. 



2d Species. — Syngnathus carce. 



A syngnathus with four fins, and seven angles on the 

 body, which contains thirty-two joints, while the tail has 

 eighteen. 



This species I have observed only in the tide-ways. The 

 natives call it the Crocodile's Tooth-pick, or Tooth-cleaner. 



The colour is greenish-brown, with some obscure pale trans- 

 verse belts on the back, and ten or eleven spots on each side 

 at the lower edge of the scales, by which the joints are sur- 

 rounded. 



The head is compressed, nearly straight, narrower than the 

 body, small, and armed on the throat with a short blunt 

 prickle. Each nostril contains two minute apertures, placed 

 near the eyes, which are small, protuberant, and high on the 



