125 



LUMP SUCKER. 



Acanthopteri. Gobiesocida. 



(Cycloptenis liimjms.) 



Local names : CocJc-paddle, Blue Lump, Pattle-hush, Red-lump, 

 Sea Owl, Stone-dagger. German : Der SeehuUe, Der Seehase. 

 French : Le gras Mollet. Dutch : Snotdolf. Danish : Hav- 

 paddle, Steenhider. 



The Lump-fish is common on our own coasts duricg 



the spring, when it approaches the shore to deposit its 



spawn. The male fish is smaller than the female, and 



at the breeding season, in March and April, becomes 



very gaudy in hue, the colours combining various shades 



of blue, purple, and rich orange-red. It is often seen 



at this time in the shops of the London fishmongers, 



swinging in the wind by means of a string, attracting 



attention from its form and brilliant tints. In March, 



1870, my friend Mr. John Keast Lord tells me he lately 



saw a specimen hanging in a shop at Billingsgate. 



Upon it was the following inscription, written in great 



letters, '* King-fish from Japan." He asked the owner 



why he put up such an absurd label, and the man told 



him he was so bothered by persons asking the name of 



the fish, and that one name was as good as another to 



nine out of ten who wanted to know. He must call it 



something, so he named it " King -fish from Japan;" 



but he knew perfectly well it was only a " jolly old lump 



sucker." So great is the difference between specimens, 



that our fishermen consider them to be different species, 



and call them the Eed Lump and the Blue Lump ; but 



the difference in colour and flavour is only the effect of 



the season. 



In February, 1880, 1 received from Mr. E. B. Norman, 

 of CoUingwood House, Yarmouth, a specimen of the 

 largest lump-fish I ever saw. He weighed lllbs., 



