164 VERTEBRATA. PISCES. 



FAM. III. DISCOBOLID^.* 



This is a small group of fishes remarkable for 

 having their large pectorals extending to the under 

 surface of the body, where they take stronger rays, 

 curve slightly forwards, and join each other by a 

 membrane going across, so as to form a disk by 

 which they adhere to other substances. In some, 

 the ventrals unite to form a second disk or sucker, 

 in contact with the former. 



Cyclopterus,*\ the Sucker. 



The pectorals and the ventrals form but a sin- 

 gle disk, oval and concave. The skin is without 

 scales, but covered with thick slime, and studded 

 with hard tubercles arranged in lines ; the whole 

 form is deep, thick, and short ; the first dorsal en- 

 closed in a thick tubercled skin. The Lumpsucker 

 (C. Lumpus) is taken around our shores, especially 

 towards the north, and is eaten. It is remarkable 

 for its odd and uncouth form, as well as for the va- 

 riations of bright colours which adorn it : the back 

 and sides being painted with deep blue, azure, and 

 purple, while the under surface and fins are of a 

 rich orange. It reaches a foot and a half in length, 



* Ai<rxo/5oXf, diskobolos, one who played with the disk in the ancient 

 games. 



+ KwxXfljj kyklos, a circle, and -rn^ov^ pteron, a wing, or fin. 



