2778 



THE BONY FISHES AND GANOIDS 



back, at the root of the tail; the pelvic fins are almost jugal in position, and have 

 the adhesive disc placed between them, while the body is covered with a naked skin. 

 Whereas in the lumpsuckers the pelvic fins are close together, and actually form 

 the base of the sucking disc, in the present family they are widely separated from 

 each other, and only enter into the composition of a portion of the margin of the 

 adhesive apparatus, which is completed by a cartilaginous expansion of the bones of 

 the pectoral girdle. In size the ovid disc is relatively large, its length being some- 

 times as much as one-third that of the whole fish, and it is divided into an anterior 

 and a posterior moiety, of which the second may or may not have a free front 

 margin. All these fishes are littoral forms of small size, ranging over both temperate 

 zones, where they are more numerous than in the tropics. Among the numerous 

 genera we can only mention the typical Gobioesox, from the West Indies and Pacific 



TWO-SPOTTED SUCKER FISH. 



(Natural size.) 



coast of South America, distinguished by the absence of a front free margin to the 

 posterior division of the sucker, and the presence of incisor-like teeth at least in the 

 lower jaw; and the European Lepadogaster, in which the hinder half of the sucker 

 has an anterior free margin, and the teeth are small and fine. The British species, 

 although variable in this respect, are very prettily colored; the figured one being 

 generally carmine red above, and pale flesh color below, with a light patch between 

 the eyes, and two more or less distinct spots on the sides. It has been obtained 

 adhering to stones and shells in deep water off Torquay. Montagu writes that when 

 placed in a vessel of sea water these little fish " always adhere to the sides of the 

 glass by the apparatus termed the sucker, and frequently remain fixed till the}*- die; 

 and even after death the power of adhesion continues. The wet finger being ap- 

 plied to the part, the fish becomes suspended; when alive, they instantly attach 

 themselves to the hand if taken out of the water." 



