LUMP FISH. 187 



the proceeding, and the male has been known to flit hither 

 and thither, without being able to leave the spot. But the 

 further sujiposition, referred to by Lacepede, of the continuance 

 of this watchfid care until and after the appearance of the 

 young ones, by remaining near them, may receive an expla- 

 nation which would lead to a different conclusion. The 

 Lumpfish is slow to move at any time, and there are few fishes 

 which are not particularly inert when the proceeding of shedding 

 their spawn has been accomplished. It is easy to suppose, 

 therefore, that when thus exhaustd with lassitude and fatigue, 

 the sucking organ would be j)ut into action for support, and 

 not again be soon disengaged. Such will probably be the 

 case with both the parents; or different individuals of the same 

 sex may become settled down without motion near each other, 

 without being influenced to this by the amicable feelings which 

 have been imj^uted to them. 



It seems probable that the time of depositing the spawn 

 is not always the same; for although the young for the most 

 part appear early in summer, I have known them of very 

 small size in the month of September. Their escape from the 

 egg is speedy, a,nd when of early growth they are found in 

 crab-pots that have been set in favourable situations at the 

 depth of six or eight fathoms. The oi^portunities which thus 

 offer themselves are so far of interest that they have afforded 

 the means of observing the remarkable changes the young pass 

 through in the early stages of their growth; in which they 

 undergo such transformations as may with some propriety be 

 termed a series of metamorphoses. 



Thus in an example of minute size, not exceeding three lines 

 in length, the general shape conveyed the impression of some 

 resemblance to the tadpole of the frog, although with a deeper 

 form of head, and bearing a different colour. The head itself 

 and anterior portion of the body were elevated, solid, wide, 

 and rounded; the forehead perpendicular from the jaws, which 

 are equal; mouth with a moderate gape. Back fiat, slightly 

 rounded, where in the full-grown Lumpfish it is ridged. 

 From the vent backward slender, compressed, longer to the 

 caudal fin than from the vent forward. Dorsal fins two, the 

 first narrow and elevated, the second and anal fin long, narrow, 

 united to the tail; the latter round; through the transparent 



