of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 171 
There were 39 females and 30 males. The females ranged in length 
from 19 to 11 inches, but the latter specimen was immature, the smallest 
female which was mature measuring 14 inches (35°5 em.) and the weight 
of the mature females ranged from 10 lbs, 12 oz. (4871 grammes) to 3 lbs. 
124 ounces (2113 grammes), but this specimen had got rid of most of its 
egos. The average length of the 39 females was 15:8 inches (about 
39cm.) and the average weight 6 lbs. 6 oz. (2889 grammes). 
The length of the males varied from 15 inches to 74 inches, the 
smallest ripe being 9 inches (23cm.); the weights ranged from 10j oz, 
(290 grammes) to 4 lbs. 6 oz. (1982 grammes) ; the former was not quite 
mature, the minimum weight of the males that were certainly spawning 
being 15} oz. (432 grammes). The average length of the 30 males was 11 
inches (28cm.) and the average weight 1 lb. 14 oz. (822 grammes.) The 
difference in the size of the males and females is thus striking. 
In June all the fish were spent or nearly so, and in July they were all 
immature, No female was obtained after 13th June, no doubt because 
they withdraw probably to deeper water, and the last male was got on 
11th July, though the net was examined up to the middle of August. 
One of the habits of the lumpsucker well known to fishermen is the 
guardianship by the male of the mass of eggs after they are deposited. 
The habit was long ago accurately described by Fabricius in his descrip- 
tion of the fishes of Greenland, and it has been referred to since by most 
writers, though often with scepticism. Couch, for example,* is of opinion 
that the description of Lacépéde to this effect is exaggerated, and that the 
presence of the male near the eggs is accidental. M‘Intosh has given a 
graphic and pathetic picture of the male remaining on the beach guarding 
the eggs in a mere runlet of water after the tide had withdrawn from 
them.t 
The authors of ‘Scandinavian Fishes,” ¢ quoting from Malm, state 
that a fisherman of Bohusliin, named Johan Persson, had observed the 
spawning of this fish for three years in succession in the same cleft of the 
rocks at a depth of three or four fathoms ; that the male posted himself a 
couple of feet away and “blew on the roe,” besides defending it from 
enemies, defeating the attacks even of the crab. This habit of “ blow- 
ing” upon the roe seems to have escaped the notice of naturalists; but 
from what follows it will be seen that the observation of the Swedish 
fisherman was quite accurate, and that an important part of the duty of 
the male taking charge of the eggs is to spout currents of water from his 
mouth on them, 
I should think there are few better instances among fishes of parental 
devotion to the progeny than what is shown by the male lumpsucker. 
For weeks and months he devotes himself to the nursing of the eggs with 
the most remarkable assiduity, refusing to be driven or seduced from his 
post ; fasting and rejecting food until almost the end of his long and 
trying vigil: “blowing” upon them and fanning them with his fins all 
the time to keep them well aérated and clean; removing anything that 
might injure them, and defending them with courage and even ferocity 
from the attacks of foes great and small. When his task is ended and 
the eggs are hatched it is not wonderful that he is worn-out, thin, and 
exhausted with his zealous labours. 
Last spring four living lumpsuckers were obtained from the local 
salmon stake-nets and brought to the Laboratory, and as two were males 
* “British Fishes,” IT., p, 187, 
+Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., XVIII., 5th Series, p. 81; Ann. Rep. Fishery Board 
for Scotland, Part III., p. 174; M‘Intosh and Masterman, “British Marine Food 
Fishes,” 183. 
+ Vol. I, p. 297. 
