CLASS PISCES.
117
Great Britain, vol. ii., p. 262) gives the estuary of the Thames
as their habitat.
Nerophis ophidion, Linn. Straight-nosed, or Snake,
Pipe-fish.
Buckland says (Fam. Hist, of Brit. Fishes, p. 197) this is
often taken with Whitebait in the mouth of the Thames.
Genus Hippocampus.
Hippocampus antiquorum. Sea-horse
Dr. Bree records (Field, December 1st, 1866, p. 420) the
capture of two specimens of this rare fish at Brightlingsea.
I have never seen it myself.
Order V. PLECTOGNATI.
Family GYMNODONTES.
Genus Orthagoriscus, Bl., Schu.
Orthagoriscus mola, BL, Schu. Short Sun-fish.
Lindsey says (A Season at Harwich, p. 102) this occurs but
occasionally on the Essex coast. Mr. E. A. Fitch informs me
that he saw a very large one which had been taken in the River
Crouch, at Battles Bridge, on October 21st, 1874. It was a
female, measuring 4ft. 6in. in length, and was carried to
Rayleigh, Rochford, and Chelmsford for exhibition {Land and
Water, October 31st, 1874, p. 340). Some years later, Mr. Fitch
rowed after another in the same river at Burnham. It moved
very slowly, and allowed his boat to approach quite closely
to its fin before it disappeared.
Orthagoriscus truncatus, Fleming. Oblong Sun-fish.
Lindsey says (A Season at Harwich, pt. ii., p. 101) the
Oblong Sun-fish is rare.