PLATE XXVII. fig. 3.
_S. flavo-brunneus: corpore gracillimo, compresso, heptagono; caudâ
quadrangulâ: vertice plano; cristâ occipitali parum conspicuâ;
rostro longo, compresso, verticaliter capite angustiore, margine
superiore acuto prope recto: pinnâ dorsali totâ multum ante medium
longitudinis sitâ; pinnis pectoralibus parvis, anali minutissimâ,
caudali distinctâ._
LONG. unc. 5. lin. 10.
FORM.—Very similar to the _S. Acus_, but the body rather more
compressed. The angles are the same, and the middle lateral ridges
of the trunk rise upwards in a similar manner to terminate behind
the dorsal fin. There are about seventy transverse shields or plates
in the whole length, eighteen of which lie between the gills and the
vent. Head much compressed about the gills, contained with the snout
about eight and a half times in the entire length. Crown nearly
flat, with very little of an occipital ridge; profile falling
obliquely, but not much out of a straight line; between the eyes a
slight hollow. Snout elongated, a trifle more than half the entire
length of the head, compressed, the upper edge sharp and nearly
horizontal in front of the nostrils, vertically much narrower than
the head.
The dorsal commences at one-third of the entire length, and occupies a
space about one-tenth of the same, terminating before the middle:
the number of rays is about forty or more. Vent about underneath the
seventh dorsal ray. Anal extremely minute, of only one or two rays.
Pectorals very small. Caudal distinct, much as in _S. Acus_.
COLOUR.—(_In spirits._) Of a nearly uniform yellowish brown, paler
underneath.
Habitat, Valparaiso.
This species, taken by Mr. Darwin at Valparaiso, would seem to represent
in that quarter of the globe the _S. Acus_ of the European seas, which,
on the whole, it much resembles, though there are several slight
differences on a close comparison. It is a female specimen, being
without the abdominal pouch, and is probably not full-sized. The dorsal
fin being a little injured, and the rays very delicate as well as
close-set, it is hardly possible to tell the exact number. The anal
exists, but it is so extremely minute that it might easily be
overlooked.
2. SYNGNATHUS CONSPICILLATUS. _Jen._
PLATE XXVII. fig. 4.
_S. griseus, fasciis transversis fuscis; genis albicantibus, vittis
duâbus angustis longitudinalibus nigro-fuscis: corpore crassiore,
subcylindrico, hexagono; caudâ quadrangulâ: vertice elevato; cristis
occipitali et nuchali distinctis: oculis magnis prominulis: fronte
declivi, in descensu sinnato: rostro brevi, gracillimo,
subcylindrico: pinnâ dorsali paulo ante medium longitudinis
desinenti: ano infra radium primum dorsalem sito: pinnis
pectoralibus parvis, anali minutissimâ; caudali distinctâ._
D. 31; A. 3?; C. 10; P. 14.
LONG. unc. 4. lin. 7.
FORM.—Body rather thick and somewhat cylindrical; the greatest
depth and thickness nearly equal, the former being about
one-twenty-seventh of the entire length. From the head to the
vent hexagonal, the middle lateral ridges terminating abruptly,
when opposite the commencement of the dorsal fin, without
inclining either upwards or downwards. Fifteen transverse plates
between the gills and the dorsal fin: only fifty-four in all,
the tail not tapering so much as in many other species. Head
much pinched in at the gills, but rather full and protuberant
about the cheeks: its length ten and a half times in the entire
length. Crown high and convex: a ridge commencing at the occiput
passes backward to the nape. Eyes large and full, with somewhat
of a spectacled appearance; their diameter equal to the whole
depth of that part of the head; the orbits rising in ridges
above them, with the intervening space concave. From between the
eyes the profile descends in a sinuous curve to the base of the
snout, which is short, slender, very narrow, and almost
cylindrical. The length of the snout is less than half the
entire length of the head; its breadth, vertically, only
one-third the depth of the same taken behind the eyes.
The dorsal commences beyond one-third of the entire length, occupies
one-ninth of the same, and terminates a little before the middle:
nearly even, and rather high, more than equalling the depth of the
body underneath. Vent about underneath the first ray, but almost in
advance of the dorsal fin altogether. Anal extremely minute.
Pectorals very small. Caudal rays distinct.
COLOUR.—Trunk greyish brown, with deep brown interrupted transverse
fasciæ. In front of the dorsal, the fasciæ terminate at the middle
lateral ridge, below which the sides are spotted. Dorsal fin also a
little spotted. Cheeks whitish, with two very distinct narrow
longitudinal vittæ extending backwards from the eyes to the
posterior part of the opercle.
Habitat, Tahiti.
A well-marked species, and apparently undescribed. The only specimen in
the collection is a female, and, like the last, perhaps not full-sized.
3. SYNGNATHUS CRINITUS. _Jen._
PLATE XXVII. fig. 5.
_S. griseus; ventre, et maculâ operculari, nigricantibus: corpore
crassiore, antice heptagono, postice quadrangulo, angulis acutis:
vertice parum elevato; cristis occipitali et nuchali distinctis:
rostro brevissimo, subcylindrico, capite angustiore, postice supra
carinato, apice subrecurvo: cirris duobus, minutis, filamentosis,
palpebralibus: pinnâ dorsali paulo ante medium longitudinis
desinente; ano infra initium ejus sito: pinnis pectoralibus et
caudali parvis; anali nullâ._
LONG. unc. 3. lin. 5.
FORM.—Body thickish, the greatest depth and thickness nearly equal,
the former about one-twenty-fifth of the whole length. From the head
to the vent heptangular; tail quadrangular: all the angles sharp and
distinctly marked. The middle lateral ridges in the heptangular
portion pass downwards at their extremities to terminate at the
vent. Sixteen transverse plates before the dorsal: only fifty-two in
the whole length. Head short, about one-eleventh of the entire
length, not more compressed than the body. Crown not much elevated,
but with distinct occipital and nuchal ridges. Orbits rising in
ridges above the eyes, the interocular space being hollowed out:
also a ridge commencing between the eyes, and passing forwards along
the base of the snout, but not reaching to its extremity. Snout
itself very short, its length only one-third the entire length of
the head, narrower than the head vertically, nearly cylindrical, the
tip slightly recurved. A few very short minute filamentous threads
scattered about the head, more particularly one over each eye.
Dorsal placed much as in the last species, and terminating a little
before the middle; the rays delicate and not easily counted, about
twenty. Vent beneath the commencement of the dorsal. No anal
distinguishable even under a lens. Pectorals very small. Caudal
moderately distinct.
COLOUR.—Grey: a spot on the gill-cover, and the belly, dusky. The
carinæ which form the edges of the under surface of the body are
darker still, and shew a fine dark line on each side extending to
the caudal.
Habitat, Bahia Blanca, Northern Patagonia.
Apparently another new species of this genus, taken by Mr. Darwin at
Bahia, and, like the last, well-marked; especially by the short
filaments above the eyes, which I am not aware occur in any other known
species.