THE SUCKER FAMILY. 181 



in the dorsal region, but there is a tendency towards a breaking 

 up of the bands into a number of isolated spots, so that 

 the next stage has the uniform tint of the adult, with dark 

 spots over the body and fins. Another of 5J inches from St 

 Andrews Bay in November also belongs to the brood of the 

 preceding season but will have entered its second year, as the 

 breeding-season does not appear to continue beyond August. 

 Its age might be from 15 to 20 months, and is probably 

 nearer the latter estimate. Sexual maturity is reached in 

 some females at a length of 6 inches. 



The adult seldom exceeds one foot in length, and is usually 

 rather less. 



The Sucker Family. Discoboli. 



THE LUMP-SUCKER, (Cyclopterus lumpus, L.) 



The eggs of this species (Plate II, fig. 1) are very abundant 

 along the rocky margins from February to the end of May 1 or 

 even somewhat later, one specimen having been procured 

 on the 12th July, 1888. Their colour varies from reddish 

 to straw-tint and even greenish, while in a ripe ovary 

 in the body of the fish it ranges from a beautiful amethystine 

 lustre through the various shades of dull yellow to greenish. 

 They appear to vary in diameter from '09 '1 inch, with 

 numerous oil-globules, the largest of which are "041 inch in 

 diameter. When the eggs are partly immersed in a crevice of 

 the rocks and partly exposed, those on the latter surface are 

 straw tinted, while those in the pocket of the rock are of a 

 faint lilac hue. The capsule is dense and minutely punctured, 

 but presents no special thickenings or superficial wrinkles, 

 except where the facets of attachment are situated (Plate II, 

 fig. 2). They are fixed together in considerable masses on the 

 rocks, the water percolating readily through the interstices ; 

 but the hatching in confined tanks is somewhat uncertain since 

 decaying debris or the death of a few leads to putrefaction of 

 the whole. 



1 W. C. M. 3rd S. F. B. Report, p. GO. 



