250 MALACOP. SUB-BRACH. SUCKERS. 



that Specimens were communicated to him by the 

 Duchess Dowager of Portland. 



Gen. LXXXYII. Cycloptertis. — The posses- 

 sion of suckers is the principal property in which 

 this genus, at least viewed in relation to Britain, 

 shows an affinity to the other members of the fa- 

 mily. There is a single suctorial disc formed by the 

 union of the pectoral fins under the throat, and the 

 ventrals also are connected with it. The body is 

 still free from scales, but it is covered with a series 

 of tubercles, and is remarkably deep and thick com- 

 pared with the length. There is but one British 

 species, namely, 



(Sp. 188.) C. lumpus. The Lump Sucker. This 

 species attains a length of a foot and a half or up- 

 wards, and from its great depth and thickness has 

 a very massive and clumsy appearance. The an- 

 terior part of the back rises into a sharp prominent 

 ridge, which seems to have given rise to the name 

 of Cock-paidle, or paddle, often bestowed on this 

 fish. It is extensively distributed, especially in 

 northern seas, and appears to extend to America. 

 It is frequent on our own coasts, appearing at times 

 in multitudes during the spring months. The male 

 is much (nearly one-half) smaller than the female, 

 and at the breeding season becomes of a bright red 

 colour ; but after spawning, both sexes change their 

 hue considerably, a circumstance which has given 

 rise to the notion that they are two species of Lump- 

 fish. They spawn in the end of March or in April, 

 the ova being deposited among the rocks and sea- 



