SUCKER. 53S 



eye to within a small space of the tail is another row ; beneath that 

 a third, commencing at the gills ; and on each side the belly a fourth 

 row, consisting of five tubercles like the other ; the whole skin is 

 rough, with small tubercles; on the upper part of the back is a 

 thick ridge, improperly called a fin, being destitute of spines ; be- 

 neath that is the dorsal fin, of a brownish hue, reaching within an 

 inch of the tail ; on the belly, just opposite, is another of the same 

 form; the belly is of a bright crimson colour ; the pectoral fins are 

 large and broad, almost uniting at their base ; beneath these is the 

 part by which it adheres to the rocks, &c. it consists of an oval 

 aperture, surrounded with a fleshy, muscular, and obtuse soft sub- 

 stance, edited with small threaded appendages, which concur as so 

 many clampers : (tail and vent tins purple ) By means of this part 

 it adheres with vast force to any thing it pleases : as a proof of its 

 tenacity, we have known, that on flinging a fish of this species, just 

 caught, into a paii of water, it fixed itself so firmly to the bottom, 

 that on taking the fish by the tail, the whole pail was lifted, though 

 it held some gallons, and that without removing the fish from its 

 hold. 



These fish resort in multitudes, during the spring, to the coast of 

 Sutherland, near the Urd of Cathness. The seals, which swim be- 

 neath, prey greatly on them, leaving the skins; numbers of which, 

 thus emptied, Moat at that season ashore. It is easy to distinguish 

 the place where the seals are devouring this or any unctuous fish, 

 by a smoothness of the water immediately above the spot : this fact 

 is now established, it being a tried property of oil to still the ag: 

 tation of the waves and render them smooth *. Great numbers of 

 these fish are found iu the Greenland seas, during the months of 

 April and May, when they resort near the shore to spawn : their 

 roe is remarkably large, which the Greenlanders boil to a pulp and 

 eat : they are extremely fat, which recommends them the more to 

 the natives, who admire oily food : they call them nipisets or cat- 

 fish, and t ike quantities of them during the season. This fish is 

 sometimes eaten in England, being stewed like carp, but is both 

 flabby and insipid. 



See Phil. Trans. 1774. p. 445. 



2 M 3 



