272 < VrLOl'TKRlD.E. 



to the bottom, that on taking it by the tail, the whole pail 

 by that means was lifted, though it held some gallons, and 

 that without removing the fish from its hold.'" 



The Lump-Sucker feeds principally on young fish, of 

 which it devours a large quantity. Mr. Couch says that it 

 sometimes takes a bait, and he has found in its stomach 

 various OHI.ST/. 



In the month of March the colours of the Lump-fish are 

 in the highest perfection, combining various shades of blue, 

 purple, and rich orange ; it is then frequently to be seen in 

 the shops of London fishmongers, suspended by the middle 

 of the back, attracting attention from the combination of 

 singular form and brilliant colours. 



A specimen sixteen inches long is usually about eight 

 inches deep, and four inches wide : the length of the head is 

 about one-fourth of the whole length of the fish ; the descend- 

 ing line of the profile of the head is abrupt ; the back highly 

 arched and somewhat compressed, forming a ridge, with a 

 row of tubercles along the upper edge ; on cutting through 

 the integument, the ridge is found to be supported by several 

 rays, which sometimes from abrasion of the hard skin appear 

 externally, and have been considered as bearing some resem- 

 blance to an anterior dorsal fin. Behind this central ridge, 

 and over the last third portion of the curve of the dorsal line, 

 is the true dorsal fin, the length of the base of which is about 

 equal to the length of the longest of its rays ; the pectoral 

 fins descend low on the sides, and passing forwards enclose 

 the adhesive apparatus which extends anteriorly to the edge 

 of the membrane connecting the branchiostegous rays, and 

 backwards as far in a vertical line as the posterior angle of 

 the operculum : the union of the ventral fins complete the 

 single disk of the only species of this genus that inhabits our 



