CYCLOPTERUS.] PISCES (OSSEI) MALACOPT. 471 



Mr. W. Thompson has procured several specimens in Belfast Bay. Has 

 also occurred on the coasts of Kent and Cornwall. Apparently unknown 

 except in the British seas. 



GEN. 59. CYCLOPTERUS, Linn. 



(1. CYCLOPTERUS, Cuv.) 



159. C. Lumpus, Linn. (Common Lump-Fish.) 

 Three longitudinal rows of osseous tubercles on each 

 side : a tuberculated ridge on the back, representing a 

 first dorsal fin. 



C. Lumpus, Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 414. Block, Ichth. pi. 90. 



Don. Brit. Fish. vol. i. pi. 10. Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 115. Flem. 



Brit. An. p. 190. Lumpus Anglorum, Will. Hist. Pise. p. 208. 



tab. N. 11. Lump-Sucker, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. HI. p. 133. 



pi. 21. no. 57. Id. (Edit. 1812.) vol. in. p. 176. pi. 24. Le Lump, 



Cuv. Reg. An. torn. 11. p. 346. 

 LENGTH. From eighteen inches to two feet. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Body deep, and at the same time remarkably 

 thick and fleshy : back sharp and elevated, with a salient ridge of osseous 

 tubercles, occupying the place of, and representing, a first dorsal fin ; the 

 tubercles ten in number, of a somewhat conical form, striated, and sharp- 

 pointed : three longitudinal rows of similar tubercles on each side of the 

 body ; the first commencing a little above the eye, and extending nearly 

 to the caudal ; the second commencing behind the gills, and reaching to 

 the same distance ; the third, a short row of five tubercles, placed at the 

 side of the abdomen, and terminating near the commencement of the anal 

 fin : there are also two very short rows of tubercles, placed one on each 

 side of the space intervening between the dorsal ridge and the dorsal fin : 

 belly, included between the two rows of abdominal tubercles, flat : head 

 short; forehead broad, rising very obliquely: mouth wide; lips thick 

 and fleshy; jaws furnished with numerous small sharp teeth, besides 

 which are some small rough tubercles on the pharyngean bones, and near 

 the root of the tongue : nostrils single, tubular, about half-way between 

 the mouth and the eyes : skin without scales, but every-where rough with 

 small sharp points : second or true dorsal placed far behind ; its length a 

 little exceeding its height ; extending to near the caudal, but leaving a 

 small intervening space : anal answering to the dorsal : ventrals united, 

 forming together a circular disk, with a funnel-shaped cavity in the 

 middle : pectorals very large, passing downwards and forwards beneath 

 the throat, and surrounding the disk of the ventrals : 



B. 6; D. 11; A. 10; C. 12; P. 21. 



(Colours.) Back and sides dusky olive, here and there tinged with red- 

 dish ; belly crimson : caudal and anal fins purplish red, spotted with 

 dusky : pectorals bright orange. 



Var. ft. C. pavoninus, Shaw, Nat. Misc. vol. ix. pi. 310. " Back of a 

 fine azure, deepening towards the ridge : the sides tinged with crimson : 

 mouth, sides of the head, and all the under parts to the tail, of a delicate 

 sea-green, with a silvery tinge on the cheeks, the pectoral fins, and the 

 part of the body next the tail : irides likewise silvery ; pupil black : fins 

 and tail terminating in a fine pale yellow." DAVIES. 



Not an uncommon species on many parts of the British coast, but taken 

 in most abundance northwards. Spawns, according to Bloch, in March. 



