1890-91.] The Common Liimp-Jish. 415 



for its welfare : not so with the lump-fish. I was fortunate 

 in observing a beautiful exemplification of this trait in a small 

 but deep pool in the rocks near Elie. This pool was close to 

 low-water mark, and would be only a couple of hours or so 

 out of the twenty-four uncovered by the sea. The water in 

 this depression of the rock was beautifully clear, and on 

 peering into it I was rewarded by the variety of marine life 

 brought under my eyes. There were many lovely forms of 

 algiB, and the bottom of the pool was alive with myriads of 

 shell-fish slowly moving to and fro. In this natural aquarium 

 my attention was directed to a lump-fish, that appeared as if 

 it were under some hypnotic influence. My approach did not 

 awaken, so far as I could judge, any fear ; and even the gentle 

 contact of a walking-stick to the side of its body did not in- 

 duce the fish to change its position. My curiosity was accord- 

 ingly further quickened, and after a minute examination of 

 the pool I discovered the cause in a slight depression on the 

 side of the rock, near the surface of the water. This was filled 

 by a tough gelatinous substance, which I found to be the ova 

 of the lump-fish. It was evidently being carefully guarded, 

 as when I dipped my hand into the water and approached 

 the ova, the fish at once rose. Doubting its good in- 

 tentions, I gently introduced into its open mouth the end of 

 my walking-stick, thereby preventing a practical demonstra- 

 tion of its power to protect its ova. I was fortunate by this 

 means in bringing away a small portion of its charge, which I 

 now exhibit. The ova, as I have said, was placed in a slight 

 depression of the rock near the surface of the water, and out 

 of reach of crabs and such ground cannibals. 



Couch states that after the deposition of the ova it swells, 

 and that a cavity, which has been termed a nest, is then 

 formed for the reception of this treasure. It is not improbable 

 that the sucking-organ is of some service in this important 

 operation. Being anxious to observe the development of the 

 ova, as well as to watch the parental solicitude evinced by this 

 lump-fish, I visited the pool after the lapse of two days, and 

 found the fish and its belongings just as before. Three days 

 passed, and again I went to the pool, but only to find that the 

 lump-fish and its charge had disappeared. The ova had evi- 

 dently attained maturity, and then vanished with its guardian, 



