272 COMMON ANGLER. 



Lump Sucker. There is on the breast of this fish a 

 large oval aperture, by means of which it is able to adhere 

 so firmly to stones, rocks, and other solid bodies, that all 

 the force of the waves is unable to detach it. One of 

 these fish, just after it was caught, was thrown into a 

 pail containing several gallons of water; and it fixed itself 

 so strongly to the bottom, that, on taking it by the tail, 

 the whole pail, with its contents, were thus lifted up, with- 

 out removing the fish from its hold. The Lump Suckers 

 are found in almost all the rocky parts of the Northern 

 Seas, and are very common on the shores of several parts 

 of our island. They spawn in the months of April and 

 May ; and are so prolific, that the roe of one of them has 

 been known to contain as many as 207,700 eggs. Their 

 flesh is soft and unctuous; and, in flavour, is said to be 

 not much unlike that of salmon. 



They are very broad and thick, and, when full grown, 

 are of the length of eighteen inches or two feet. The 

 body is angular, and has several rows of sharp and bony 

 tubercles. The belly is flat and broad. The whole skin 

 is rough, and beset with small tubercles. The pectoral 

 fins, which almost unite at the base, are large and broad. 

 The upper parts of the body are of a greenish-brown 

 colour ; and the belly is sometimes the same, and some- 

 times of a bright crimson. 



23. FISHING-FROG OR ANGLER TRIBE. 



The Fishing-frogs have a naked and viscous body. 

 Their head is flat, and their teeth are sharp and numerous. 

 Some of the species are of large size. 



Common Jlngler, or Frog-fish. The tremendous head 

 and mouth of these animals are sufficient indications of 



