COLLECTION OF FISH. l±?> I 



prehcnds two genera : the file-fish and trunk-fish. 

 We have sixty-six species of the first genus and 

 eighteen of the second : they all inhabit the equa- 

 torial seas, except the Mediterranean file-fish, 

 vulgarly called pesce balestra. The colours of 

 the file-fishes are varied and brilliant during life, 

 but disappear after death. The trunk-fishes, 

 instead of scales have a long crust, whose hexa- 

 gonal compartments are soldered into a cuirasse, 

 covering their head and body ; their form is 

 like that of a triangular or square box ; they are 

 all, except one, armed with prickles differently 

 situated according to the species. 



The order of the lophobranchia is very re- 

 markable on account of its gills, which, instead 

 of being fashioned like the teeth of a comb, are 

 in the form of a little tuft. This order compre- 

 hends three genera : that of the pipe-fish (syngna- 

 ihus), of which we have ten species; that of the 

 sea-horse (hippocampus), of which we have four 

 species ; and that of the pegasus, of which we 

 have only two. Almost all the fishes of this 

 order have the body from one end to the other 

 covered with laminae or escutcheons which give 

 it an angular form. The swimming pegasus, or 

 the pegasus of the Indian seas, derives its name 

 from its singular form, occasioned by the size of 

 its pectoral fins. 



