SEA-HORSE. 



131 



Solenognathus (438), of the seas of China and Australia, has a 

 short prehensile tail by which it holds on to pieces of sea-weed 

 among which it lives. The Sea-horse, Hippocampus abdominalis 

 (440, and fig. 61) has a well-developed prehensile tail, and carries 

 the body in a vertical position. The head is bent at right angles 

 to the body and bears some resemblance to the head of a horse ; 

 it is very like the " knight " of the chess-board. In the Dragon- 

 fish, Phyllopteryx, 439, the tubercles or spines are produced into 

 large, soft, leafy streamers, composed of skin, and bearing a 

 close resemblance to bits of sea-weed. 



The fishes of the family Solenostomatida? (433) differ from 

 those of the Syngnathidae in having large pelvic fins and an 



Fig. 61. — Lobular gill of Sea-horse, Hippocampus abdominalis, 



brought into view by turning the gill-cover forward. 



(From Gunther, " Study of Fishes.") 



anterior, spinous dorsal fin, and in the gill-opening being wide. 

 The brood-pouch is constituted by the broad pelvic fins, and 

 occurs in the female. 



The Pegasus, Pegasus volitans, 443, is an odd little fish found Pegasus. 

 on the sandy shoals of the coasts of Japan, China, India, and 

 Australia. The mouth is on the under side of the head and has 

 no teeth; the gills are pectinate, and not lobular as in the 

 Sea-horses. The body is entirely covered with bony plates, 

 arranged in the form of rings. The pectoral fins are broad and 

 horizontal, like large wings ; in the species in question the five 

 front rays have the form of strong spines. These fishes constitute 

 the division Hypostomides. The dried bodies of the Pegasus 

 are frequently used by the Chinese in conjunction with shells 



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