248 



XX, FAMILY OF THE SUCKERS. 

 CYCLOPTERID^:. 



Representatives in British Fauna. Gen. 3, Sp. 5. 



Gen. 86. LEPADOGASTER. Sp. 1 86. L.Cornubiensis. Cornish Suckei 

 187. L. bimaculatus. Two-Spotted 



ditto. 



&7. CYCLOPTERUS. . 188. C. luwpus. . Lump do. 

 88. Li PARIS. . . . 189.X. vulgaiis. Unctuous do. 

 1 90. L. Montagui. Montagu's do. 



This family is of very limited extent, most of the 

 species of comparatively small size, and not of much 

 importance in an economical point of view. It cor- 

 responds to the third family of Ciivier's Malacop- 

 terygii Sub-brachiati, named by him Discoboli, from 

 a very striking peculiarity in their structure. The 

 ventral fins are very much dilated beneath, and 

 surround a circular disk, which acts as a sueker. 

 By means of this instrument these fishes are able to 

 retain their place in a strong current of water, and 

 obtain food in places where most other kinds of fish 

 would be swept away. 



Gen. LXXXYI. LEPADOGASTER.* In this ge- 



* This term is derived from Xrf a shell and y&e<rt the 

 belly, in reference to the shell-shaped sucker formed by the 

 ventrals. Some authors, among others Mr. Jenyns and Mr. 

 Yarrell, write the word as if it were derived from A uric, a 

 scale. 



