Illl'POCAMPTJS. 
365 
Like some of the Pipefishes, they seek for some floating 
object round which to entwine the hindmost portion of their 
body by way of support, while the upper part remains free, 
and the head bent, with the lively eyes directed everywhere, 
singly or together, in search of food, towards which they steer 
their support by joint action of the dorsal and pectoral fins. 
It was observed also that the under part of the cheeks was 
used when it was desired to obtain a new support, so that the 
tail might entwine itself afresh. Mr. Thompson remarks that 
two very small examples were taken from the stomach of a 
small Cod. 
Contrary to our usual custom, and for want of a fresh 
specimen, the description and figure we give of this fish are 
from a dried example from the Mediterranean. The absolute 
length a little short of six inches; the body compressed, deep, 
the depth ending at the vent, and from thence tapering to a 
slender termination. The snout in front of the eyes slender, 
and with the mouth shaped as in the Pipefishes; teeth in the 
jaws discernible; eye large; head compressed; giU-covers long, 
opening of the gills high and small ; the head rising posteriorly 
into a crest, with bony elevations, which are highest above 
the gill-covers; a narrow depression between the eyes. Seven 
spinous ridges along the body to the dorsal fin and vent, of 
which a pair run parallel along the ridge of the back, where 
the spines are the most prominent, behind the dorsal fin 
tapering and square. There are twelve circular ridges, each 
having a spine where it joins the longitudinal ridges; on the 
square portion of the body thirty- two circular ridges. The 
pectoral fins are close to the head, and Willoughby compares 
their appearance to ears; the dorsal fin about the middle of 
the body; the head bent and the caudal portion curved even 
when alive. Willoughby says that the proper colour is a 
dull green, darker on the hindmost part, but after death it 
becomes dark brown. 
