348 DIMINUTIVE SUCKER-FISH. 



itself. Mr. Pennant says still more, for he has known 

 that, in flinging a fish of this kind just caught into 

 a pail of water, it fixed itself so firmly to the bottom, 

 that, on taking it by the tail, the pail was lifted up, 

 though it contained several gallons of water. 



To descend from the largest to the smallest species, 

 we arrive at the Montague Sucker-Fish, or, as it is 

 sometimes called, the Diminutive Sucker, one of the 

 most interesting little creatures to be met with at 

 the sea-shore. At the coast near Edinburgh I 

 have met with many specimens, equally well in 

 the spring or winter season, as during the sum- 

 mer months. At such locality this species may 

 therefore be pronounced common ; yet it is compara- 

 tively unknown to most ' collectors' in the neigh- 

 bourhood. Many, indeed, contend that my designa- 

 tion is erroneous. But having taken considerable 

 pains to satisfy my mind upon the subject, I have no 

 hesitation whatever in stating that the little fish in 

 question is identical with that of the Montague Sucker. 



Donovan, in his 'Natural History of British 

 Fishes/ 1 was the first to illustrate and publish an 

 account of this petite gem of ocean. His figures are 

 copied from drawings made by Colonel Montague, 

 who also furnished the description of the specimen 

 delineated. With the important exception of the 



1 This splendid work, which was published in five volumes, between the years 

 1802-8, contains 120 exquisite illustrations, all, with the solitary exception, unfor- 

 tunately, of the Montague Sucker Fish, accurately drawn and coloured from living 

 specimens, procured at vast trouble by the author. 



