FISHES 167 



with the world without. The hole is then cunningly 

 concealed with sand whilst he goes in search of a partner. 

 Most of these fishes are content with quite small families, 

 but the Lump-sucker (Cyclopterus lumpus) deposits from 

 eighty to one hundred and thirty thousand eggs in some 



Lump-suckers 



convenient rock fissure. The eggs, often exposed at high 

 water, are guarded by the male, for some months if need 

 be, during which time he continually turns them about 

 with his head, aerates them by fanning them with his fins, 

 and blows water over them with his mouth. The father 

 seldom survives the arduous duties since he never feeds 

 throughout the whole term of nursing. Invaders in the 



