LUMPFISH. 189 



it sinks abruptly to a flat space that is enclosed behind, 

 between it and the second dorsal, with part of a circle of 

 tubercles. The under jaw may be said to protrude a little; 

 lips full; teeth small; nostrils tubular. Eyes elevated and 

 prominent. The body slopes down towards the tail, which 

 organ is a little rounded, but sometimes straight. There are 

 three rows of tubercles on each side, besides the ridge of 

 them along the back. One of these begins a little above the 

 nostrils, runs in a curved shape above the eye, and behind 

 the head it runs with larger tubercles to the origin of the 

 tail. Another begins a little above the root of the pectoral 

 fin, and ends also at the tail; the lowermost begins near the 

 sucking organ and ends close to the anal fin. The head is 

 otherwise rough, sometimes also with scattered tubercles, and 

 the skin of the body with small points. The pectoral fin is 

 wide, and passes forward under the throat to be united with 

 the narrow ventral fins, together encircling the sucking organ. 

 Twenty rays in the pectoral; second dorsal and anal fins opposite 

 each other; the first with nine rays, the second with eight. 

 Tail with nine rays; outline of the fins generally waved. There 

 are perpendicular lines at that part of the body where the 

 greatest motion is exerted. In young individuals the prevailing 

 colour is green ; when older a blue tint succeeds ; which in the 

 larger females at last becomes black, except beneath. The male 

 is, at least in the breeding season, of a bright pink beneath, 

 as also on the fins, and a fine blue above. The bones of this 

 fish are soft, as in the cartilaginous fishes. The Lumj)fish is 

 very retentive of life. 



