125 



LUMP SUCKER. 



Acanthopteri. Gobiesocidce. 



( Cyclopterus lump us.) 



Local names : Cock-paddle, Blue Lump, Pattle-hush, Red-lump, 

 Sea Owl, Stojie-clagger. German : Der SeebuUe, Der Seehase. 

 French : Le gras Mollet. Dutch : Snotdolf. Danish : Hav- 

 paddle, Steenhider. 



The Lump-fish is common on our own coasts during 

 the spring, when it approaches the shore to deposit its 

 spawn. The male fish is smaller than the female, and 

 at the breeding season, in March and April, becomes 

 very gaudy in hue, the colours combining various shades 

 of blue, purple, and rich orange-red. It is often seen 

 at this time in the shops of the London fishmongers, 

 swinging in the wind by means of a string, attracting 

 attention from its form and brilliant tints. In March, 

 1870, my friend Mr. John Keast Lord tells me he lately 

 saw a specimen hanging in a shop at Billingsgate. 

 Upon it was the following inscription, written in gi'eat 

 letters, "King-fish from Japan." He asked the owner 

 why he put up such an absurd label, and the man told 

 him he was so bothered by persons asking the name of 

 the fish, and that one name was as good as another to 

 nine out of ten who wanted to know. He must call it 

 something, so he named it *' King-fish from Japan;" 

 but he knew perfectly well it was only a " jolly old lump 

 sucker." So great is the difl'erence between specimens, 

 that our fishermen consider them to be different species, 

 and call them the Eed Lump and the Blue Lump ; but 

 the difference in colour and flavour is only the effect of 

 the season. 



In February, 1880, 1 received from Mr. E. B. Norman, 

 of Collingwood House, Yarmouth, a specimen of the 

 largest lump-fish I ever saw. He weighed lllbs., 



