368 



CYCLOPTERID.E. 



inches in height by the end of November. Shaw's specimen, 

 of six inches in length, to which he attached the specific name 

 of Pavonina, is only a young fish of our common species, 

 which for want of sufficient age had not attained its perfect 

 colour. The bony rays supporting the dorsal crest frequently 

 pierce through the skin, and giving the appearance of two 

 dorsal fins, have suggested the notion of another species ; the 

 young have also, from differences depending upon their age 

 and condition as fry, been considered specifically distinct, and 

 thus the terms pyramidalis, minutus, and two or three other 

 names have arisen. As the Lump-fish is retentive of life, its 

 power of adhesion is sometimes made the subject of expe- 

 riment. Pennant says, " That on placing a fish of this spe- 

 cies, just caught, into a pail of water, it fixed itself so firmly 

 to the bottom, that on taking it by the tail, the whole pail 

 by that means was lifted, though it held some gallons, and 

 that without removing the fish from its hold.'"' 



The Lump-Sucker feeds principally on young fish, of 

 which it devours a large quantity. Mr. Couch says that it 

 sometimes takes a bait, and he has found in its stomach 

 various onisci. 



In the month of March the colours of the Lump-fish are 

 in the highest perfection, combining various shades of blue, 

 purple, and rich orange ; it is then frequently to be seen in 

 the shops of London fishmongers, suspended by the middle of 

 the back, attracting attention from the combination of singu- 

 lar form and brilliant colours, 



A specimen sixteen inches long is usually about eight 

 inches deep, and four inches wide : the length of the head is 

 about one-fourth of the whole length of the fish ; the descend- 

 ing line of the profile of the head is abrupt ; the back highly 

 arched and somewhat compressed, forming a ridge, with a 

 row of tubercles along the upper edge ; on cutting through 

 the integument, the ridge is found to be supported by several 



