Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/294

280 presented by these curious fishes to the Marsupial Mammalia will doubtless occur to our readers.

One hundred species are now known to belong to this Family, all of which are marine: they are scattered over the seas and oceans of both hemispheres. Seven species are recognised as British. Two Sub-families are indicated, which are thus distinguished:

1. Pegasina. In these the body is depressed, and broad; the snout lengthened and tubular, but the mouth is placed beneath, and is moveable.

The pectorals are very large, and the ventrals are composed each of a single slender ray. The species inhabit the tropical seas of the eastern hemisphere.

2. Syngnathina. The head and body are slender and compressed; the mouth opens upward at the extremity of the snout; the ventrals are