, 1875-10-16
SPARKS OF SCIENCE.

FUNNY FISHES.
Ons Of the qubtntest OF tho wonderfully quaint
creatures belonging to tho animal world IL tho
littlo 8ea.uorse (Aippocanpns) which dmels in
tho oceans that lap tho shores Of America,
Europe. at,tl Southern Asia. Il hhB head liko
that Of horse, bll, like drumming birds, eyos
like chaneloon's, bony scalos like gar-hs1's
potlch like kangAroo's, h1ld = tail like . mon
keys. It Ia only Or inches long, Stunning
aizc. and no more interesting pot can ho occurred
for salt-vater aquarium. The body Is short
and compressed measuring about ooo-fouEth tho
wholc Isneth Of tho AuImsI, and terminates iu q
long, taperiug, fout.sded tail Tho general tint
liz asy gray, but The scales hayo metallic lustre.
mud IN tho movements Of Tho crcAturo produce a
charming play Of color They are also tipped on
tho angles OF ths body with sptnous projectious
The bright eyes Of tho Sea Horse, with yellow
irlts borderod by 4 line Of blue, seem TO move
Independently OF each other allowing the Lively
little croatuso to gaze In two directions at once.
Az 1t swima 1t holds itssf partially ereot, aud,
with Ito neck arched and head bent slightly for
ed, II looks like q miniature courser prancing 10
the water. whic!, 1t has chosen for sporting
ground In prefereuce to tho lsud. Il1t the tiny
creature soon tires Of aclio,,. snd, whipping i.e
tal bround tho first objoct In It's wAy that pro-
shnts suitable projection. 1t steadieH itAoff by
a'rong .raHp, and IN Al upright attitude re-
cosbfH from Its fAtigne.
~ tho strongest pscul"rlty Of the Boa. Horse
is the mode In which It tsara lts young. And il,
shls matter our interest. oddly hgain. centres III
the H1ale tnssoad OF tha fonAle. Tor the former
almost literally hnstalns tie double relation OF
;ntsr @ M. mothet to his tendor ofrsprinE With
u u sne nespotustlon Of the bperios ID concluded.
nc no!asa it hks not bstn f4i4enYa,td By natural.
ass now tlo transfer IL effected; but ~ soon AZ
sns ~ o. Spawning las beaM performed BY tho
female, tue eggs sse received INTO $40 or
pouch sssuased Oil tic lowor part Of tile abdo-
mon ot ths 'uAle. This rae Ii stored win fat
on Wtleh !he cmbry1 subast nftsr thoy have
as % s.e foaa provided fos .hs In tue egg
psliea rom tho sac, tts wallis aya found TO be
drained Of shelr supply Of nourlsAlnent, aud
h.ng s a:es'a, a"s T. ,n msrs IN MN msasfano.
o%e m9 o%a " =, soe oe tos', samuel Lockwood our
In the history of the hoa-Ilorss. Tais psttont
| asudsnt Of nature hAl fur t,ma raynTs;
'graYid males Under h's pbael sat,or,, aud WAN
able 70 watsa We M PROCESS ,s1 hy WHICH tho young
as follows, ''With its abdomen .u3usI tns,rtss
the shell r. broken wlnklo nllelD, IT, tsiI H.
tkched to the undo! paEt 1f H. lAo body erecte,l
to ITS full height, tho animal, by eont1zesi!s
self downWards st'd sgaIust ths tholl, tins rub.
l,ng tue pouch upward. and In tliss sl,u,,te. vi
effective way. expelled the fFy a. the oponug Of,
top OF tin HAck." 1ho H1tTus!oh Or tue yuluR
lastsa for nearly six hours. from three 10 sx 10.
diriduals beiog e4pel!ed by each effort, all
Hi interval VI rest occurring Ater avery e1ertion
Tia oulIro narnhaE Of llttle Hipros pro
ducod At this brit, wAs computed by Mr. Lock
wood At nut far from thouaAnd. Tiny wer'
extremely d!uslnntlYe, 1neasunug not more thsl
! ilf0 or ak lInes ~ length, aud tho tail being
nlsre thread. hut ti,ey had their various facuE
tier in full develop.ueut. aud cut up all sorts o
Ffunuy psanks during their baby ltta, They wol
forever tying themselves loKethes with thei
tslls.-ons c&4dA extremity euuluE A1oBud N