>4 2 THE OCEAN WORLD. 



form two discs. In the Lump-fish, Cydopterus htmpus (Fig. 402), 

 the disc formed by the ventrals forms a sort of sucker, by which the 

 fish attaches itself to the rocks ; while the genus Echineis is remark- 

 able for having on its head a disc-like sucker, which, according to 

 M. Blainville, is an anterior dorsal fin strangely metamorphosed. 



Fig. 402. The Lump-fish (Cyclopterus lumpus). 



The Echineis remora is an inhabitant of the Mediterranean, and 

 abounds in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. It is furnished with a 

 flat disc, which covers its head, as represented in Fig. 403, which is 

 formed of a number of transverse and movable cartilaginous plates. 

 Aided by this organ, it attaches itself firmly to rocks, and even to 

 ships and larger fishes, such as the Dog-fish (Acanthius), which it 

 meets with in its wanderings. Its adhesion to those objects is so 

 strong that the strength of a man fails to separate them. It invari- 



