78 
ICHTHYOLOGY 
the anterior edge of the eye is equal to half the diameter of the 
orbit. The upper part of the head is covered with very minute 
scales, which have on the operculum a radiated disposition. The 
pectorals are large and formed of twenty-three rays ; the body 
pentagonal and flat on its upper and lower surfaces ; the anus 
is below the twenty-sixth ring ; the dorsal begins on the 
middle of the twenty-fourth, and extends over the eight 
following ; it is high and composed of thirty-four rays ; the 
tail is formed of twenty rings ; the last ones longer than 
the others ; its form is similar to the one of the body ; the 
caudal is as long as the snout ; it is rhomboidal, of ten rays, 
with the four central ones prolonged in long filaments. 
The body, particularly on its upper parts, is covered with 
granulations, probably due to the presence of very minute 
scales. 
The colour is olive, with the lower parts rather yellow ; the 
base of the body rings is rather darker ; the fins are trans- 
parent, except the caudal, which is almost black. 
The total length of the specimen is eight inches. 
There can be no doubt as to the genus of this fish ; but I 
am not certain that it belongs to the sort described by 
Dr. Kaup. I cannot see any trace of the anal that he men- 
tions. His specimen was a female, as is also mine, and as he 
says distinctly that he has not seen the male, I cannot under- 
stand how Dr. Gunther (Gatal. vol. viii., p. 1 87), who says 
himself he has never seen the fish, and only quotes it from 
Dr. Kaup's description, can have learned (p. 153) that the 
male has the egg-pouch on the abdomen. 
SYNGNATHUS P^CILOL^IMUS. 
Syngnathus Paecilolsemus, Peters, Monatsber, ah. Wiss. r 
Berlin, 1868, p. 458. 
— — Gunther, Gatal., vol. viii., p. 174. 
This sort has some general resemblance of coloration with 
Stig. Argus, but is easily distinguished by the presence of a 
caudal ; it is of an olive colour, becoming of a dirty yellow 
on the lower side ; the snout has faint transverse brown bands,. 
