LUMP SUCKER. 367 



" Fabricius describes the Lump-fish as approaching the 

 rocky bays on the Greenland coast in the months of April 

 and May for the purpose of spawning. The female precedes, 

 and deposits her roe among the larger algee, and in fis- 

 sures of the rocks ; the male shortly follows, and fructifies the 

 eggs, adhering so closely to the mass of roe, that the im- 

 pression is left upon the hollow surface of the shield formed 

 by the ventrals ; after which he keeps watch over the sacred 

 deposit, and guards it from every foe with the utmost courage. 

 If driven from the spot by man, he does not go far, but is 

 continually looking back, and in a short time returns. Even 

 the well-armed Wolf-fish hazards his life if he approaches the 

 Lump's nest ; for this creature, notwithstanding the smallness 

 of its teeth, is capable of attaching itself to its adversary's 

 neck, and inflicting thereon a mortal wound. 1 '' This account 

 by Fabricius has been doubted by Lacepede, but in part 

 receives confirmation from the observations of others. Dr. 

 George Johnston, in his list of the fishes of Berwickshire, 

 says, " The Cock and Hen Paidle spawn toward the end of 

 March and in April. At that season the Hen approaches 

 the shore and deposits her spawn among the rocks and sea- 

 weed within low water mark, and immediately afterwards 

 returns to deeper water. The male then covers the spawn, 

 and, according to the testimony of our fishermen, remains co- 

 t vering it, or near it, until the ova are hatched. The young- 

 soon after birth fix themselves to the sides and on the back of 

 their male parent, who sails, thus loaded, to deeper and more 

 safe retreats. He is only half the size of the Hen ; and at 

 the breeding season his belly becomes of a reddish colour. 

 The spawn of a single female will fill a large basin, and is of 

 a beautiful pink colour : the eggs globular, and about the size 

 of swan shot. Not in use as food, but the Cock especially is 

 reported to be excellent when fried or baked." 



The young are four inches and a half long, and three 



