434 
VERTEBRATA. 
THE SEA-HORSE. 
THE PIPE-FISH. 
Tliey are usually of small size. Mr. Yarrell describes two specimens of the Short-nosed Sea-Horse 
taken in England; they were about five inches long, and 
being put into a glass vessel swam about, their heads in a 
vertical position, and their tails readily grasping the sea- 
weed put into the vase. When the two approached each 
other, they often twined their tails together. These little 
fishes are very amusing in an aquarium. 
To the same family as the preceding belong the Pipe- 
Fishes, which have a long, eel-like body, with the jaws 
united and forming a tube nearly cylindrical. The eggs of 
the female are cast by her into a sort of false belly be- 
longing to the male, and situated near the tail; here they are hatched, and here they occasionally 
take refuge like young opossums ! So 
^^="""~^' apt a;re they to take to this retreat, 
that if the parent be caught and the 
young fry be shaken out of the pouch, 
they will immediately return if the 
tail of the jsarent be held in the water. 
There are several species : the Great 
PiPE-FisH, Syngnathus acus, which is 
found on the European coasts, is tAvelve 
to eiijhteen inches long;. It lives on 
water insects, worms, and small mollusca, and swims horizontally or perpendicularly, in every atti- 
tude of contortion. 
THE ACANTHOPTEEA. 
This sub-order includes those of the Acanthopterygii or Spiny-finned Fishes of Cuvier, which 
have the inferior pharyngeal bones distinctly separated. The rays of the first dorsal fin are 
always spinous, and the first rays of the other fins, excepting the caudal, are often of the same 
structure. The number of fishes belonging to this division is very great ; we shall notice them 
under the followiug heads: AiUostomidce, Trigilidoe or Cataphracta,^ Percidce, Scicenidce, Sparidce, 
Choetodontidce, Teuthidce, Scomberidce, Xiphiidce, Coryphoenidoe^ Notacanthidce, Cepolidce, Miigi- 
lidce, Anabatidce, Gobiidce, Blenniidce, and Lophiidce. 
THE AULOSTOMID^. 
The fishes of this family, whose scientific name means pipe-mouthed^ have the bones of the face 
drawn out into a long tube, at the extrem- 
ity of which is the opening of the mouth; 
hence they arc called Sea-Snipes^ Trumpet- 
Fishes, Belloios- Fishes, &c. There are 
several species, mostly inhabitants of the 
seas of warm climates. The Common' 
Trumpet or Bellows-Fish, Centriscus sco- 
lopax, like the rest of the family, feeds on 
minute animals found among sea-weed ; 
its flesh is good; length five inches and upward; common on the coasts of Europe. The Tobacco- 
piPE-FiSH, Fistularia serrata, and Neav York Trumpet-Fish, F. tahacaria^ are American species. 
THE TRIGILIDJ3 OR CATAPHRACTA. 
These fishes are noted for having the cheeks covered with bony plates, and the head is usually 
more or less armed with spines, or furnished with membraneous appendages, which often give 
them a singular appearance. The fins are usually greatly developed. 
Genus DACTYLOPTERA : Dactyloptera. — In the species of this genus, the pectoral fins 
attain such a length as to enable the fish to support itself in the air for a short time. There are 
THE TRDMPET-FISH. 
