196 



LEPABOGASTER. 



The body is depressed from behind the head forward, compressed on 

 its hindward half to the tail; the upper jaw lengthened into a narrow 

 flattened snout. The sucking organ is divided into two portions, of 

 which one is bordered by an union of the pectoral fins, and the other 

 by the ventrals. 



CORNISH SUCKER. 



SUCKING FISH. JUKA SUCKEK. 



Cycloptere spatule, Lacepede. 



Lepadogaster Cornuhiensis, Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 189. 



Cyclopterus ocellatus, Donovan; pi. 76. 



Lepadogaster hiciliahis, Eisso ; p. 73, pi. 4, f. 9. 



" Cornuhiensis, Jenyns ; Manual, p. 469. 



" " Yahrell ; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 359. 



" Gouanii, Gunther; Catalogue Br. Museum, 



vol. iii, p. 610. 



The species termed the Cornisli Sucker is so named because 

 it was first noticed in that part of England; and it is there 

 still regarded as being pre-eminently the Sucker, from being 

 the most frequently met with of this family, and especially bacause 

 the propensity to exercise the adhesive faculty immediately excites 

 the attention of a casual observer, Avho may chance to take it 

 in his hand, to which with a slight flutter it soon becomes 

 attached. Rest and inertness form indeed a prominent portion 

 of its habits; and it "will continue to fasten itself to one place 

 without moving for many hours together. When disposed to 

 move from one station to another, it presently again assumes 

 the same fixed attitude, which it will sometimes continue by 

 means of the mechanical operation of the sucking organ, even 

 after death. There is reason to believe that it is not found in 



