THE SYNGNATHIDjE, OB PIPE-FISH. 205 



spiration, or the form of the branchia, in all animals, 

 must be variable in that part of the series of beings, 

 or those links of her chain, where Nature is about to 

 assume some other form of structure : it consequently 

 follows that, in such cases, the character which heretofore 

 she has assumed, sinks into secondary importance, as a 

 sole instrument for classification, where it is about to 

 be quitted and exchanged for another; and if we wish to 

 follow Nature in her own course, we must not merely look 

 to one of her characters, but to all. The insessorial order 

 of birds, for instance, are strictly terrestrial, yet there 

 is one genus among them — the Cincli, or water ouzels 

 — which are altogether amphibious. If, therefore, we 

 are to adopt the idea that the Syngnathidce, on account 

 of their branchia, should be considered the represent- 

 ation of a distinct order, the same rule, by parity of rea- 

 soning, should be followed in the case of Cinclus : all 

 the insessorial birds would thus be divided into two 

 orders, the terrestrial and amphibial ; the Cinclus alone 

 coming under the latter. Now^ as it is by this order 

 that the class of fishes pass into that of the Amphi- 

 bia ; so it is not only probable, but almost necessary 

 to the harmony of the series, that the great difference 

 in the repiration of these two classes should be marked 

 by animals presenting a union of both. The branchia 

 of the Syngnathidce, as we conceive, are precisely of this 

 description ; and while this one character determines 

 the situation of these fishes in the natural series, we 

 must class them in that order, to which, in all other 

 points, they bear the strongest resemblance of affinity. 

 Indeed, there is no great innovation in this., because M. 

 Cuvier himself places the Syngnathidce close to the 

 Balistidce. The structure and appearance of this family 

 are as remarkable as its economy and habits. From 

 their long slender bodies,, they have got the name of 

 pipe-fish : the snout is excessively lengthened, and is 

 terminated by a little mouth, opening almost vertically, 

 and destitute of teeth : the body itself is covered with 

 a cuirass of bony plates, which renders it angular : the 



