350 
riPEFISIIES, OR SEA ADDERS. 
SYNGNATHI- 
A CHARACTER of this remarkable family of fishes is, that in 
front of the eyes the snout is lengthened into a tube, at the 
end of which is the mouth; which is small, with the angle 
depressed, so that the lower jaw closes on it like a cover. 
Gill-cover formed of a bony plate, with a small opening to the 
gills high on the side; the processes or aerating fibres of the 
gills divided into small round tufts, that are arranged in pairs 
along their supporting arches. It is from this structure that 
Cuvier terms these fishes Lophobranchiati, or having tufted 
gills. The body is covered with regularly arranged plates, 
which tend to produce an angular appearance through its 
length. 
