103 



MONTAGU'S SUCKER. 



Liparis Monfagui, Ouvier. Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 100. 



CycJopterus Monfagui, Jenyns; Manual, p. 473. 



Liparis Montagui, Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. ii, p. 374, 



" " Gunther; Catalogue Br. Museum, 



vol. iii, p. 161. 



This species was first desciybed by George Montagu, Esq., 

 who was commonly known as Colonel Montagu; and from that 

 circumstance it obtained its secondary name. It is common on 

 the shores of Cornwall and Devon, and also, as we learn from 

 Mr. Thompson, round the coasts of Ireland; but it becomes 

 more rare as we proceed northward or greatly to the south, 

 although, as Mr. Peach informs me, an example has been obtained 

 at Wick, in Scotland. With us it is seldom taken beyond the 

 depth of four or five fathoms; and in the spring we discover 

 it near low water mark, not unfrequently left by the tide and 

 lying hid under a stone; in which position when uncovered, 

 without much efl^ort to escape, it usually assumes the curious 

 habit of throwing its tail forward towards the side of the head. 

 Its time of spawning is in the spring, and it has been seen 

 greatly distended with spawn at the middle of April, the spaAvn 

 lying very loose in the ovary. As food four examples of the 

 Sandhopper have been taken from the stomach of a single 

 individual. Some individuals of full growth were placed in a 

 bottle with sea-water, where they readily attached themselves 

 by the sucker to the sides, and even to the top with their 

 backs downward; and when they chose to shift their places 

 they as readily attached themselves to the fixed object ac^ain. 

 At times their motions were lively, but at other times the con- 

 trary. The actions of the dorsal fin appeared as if the hinder 

 portion only moved; and as the structure of the anterior portion 

 VOL. II. 2 c 



