PAIRING, COURTSHIP, AND PARENTAL CARE 311 



rock-pools between tide-marks, provide for the safety of their 

 eggs by depositing them in the dead shells of mussels, oysters, 

 etc., in crevices in the rocks, on the under sides of stones, on 

 fronds of seaweed, or even within the broken "bulbs" of the 

 familiar Bladderwrack. The male usually mounts guard, and 

 in the case of some of the Sculpins (Cottidae) may actually 

 "brood" over them, clasping the egg-masses with his pectoral 

 and pelvic fins, the inner surfaces of which are provided with 

 asperities or hooks to enable him to obtain a firmer grip. 

 Aeration of the eggs is another duty faUing upon the father, 

 and is generally accomplished by fanning the surrounding 

 water with the pectoral fins. The Common or Sand Goby 

 {Gobius minutus) of our own shores makes a more elaborate 

 shelter, the male first seeking a suitable shell, generally a cockle 

 or small scallop, which he turns over so that the concave side 

 is downwards. He then gets underneath it, clearing away 

 the sand with his tail, until a neat Uttle chamber has been 

 constructed, communicating with the exterior by a single 

 tunnel-like opening. Finally, he covers the whole structure 

 with fine loose sand, and sets oflf in search of a suitable mate. 



The Lump-sucker or "Cock and Hen Paddle" {Cyclopterus) 

 generally deposits its spawn in crevices in the rocks above the 

 le\^el of low water at spring tides. The large masses, containing 

 anything from 80,000 to 136,000 eggs, vary in colour from dark 

 brown to red, pink or pale yellow. For a portion of each tide 

 the eggs are, of course, uncovered, and are preyed upon by 

 numerous enemies in the shape of starUngs, rooks, seagulls, 

 and rats, whilst at high water they may be devoured by various 

 fishes. It is doubtful, however, whether there are many better 

 cases of parental devotion than that of the male Lump-sucker. 

 For weeks and even months he devotes himself to the care of 

 the eggs, fasting rather than leave his post, from time to time 

 pressing his head into the clump of spawn to allow the water 

 to penetrate to the centre, and thus ensuring the proper 

 aeration of the eggs, a process which he further helps by blowing 

 upon them with his mouth and fanning them with his pectoral 

 fins. He removes any animals such as crabs, star-fishes, and 

 shell-fish which may crawl on to the spawn, and defends it 

 with intense vigour against foes both large and small. One 

 individual male, kept under observation for several weeks, 

 was seen to be faithful to his charge during the whole of this 

 period, even though exposed for a considerable time twice daily 

 at ebb-tide. While on guard the males have been described as 



