FISHES 163 



fin. From these curious spots it is known as " Nine-eyes." Its skin is thickly 

 coated with a slippery mucous secretion, hence its nickname of " Butter Fish." 

 It belongs to the Blenny family. 



Father Lasher (HORNY COBBLER, STING FISH) (Cottus scorpio) is an ugly 

 fish, like the Miller's Thumb or Bullhead of our fresh-water streams. It has 

 a broad head covered with spines, is protectively coloured in brown, green, and 

 grey, to suit its surroundings, and has a habit of dashing out at anything 

 that moves within its view. Most of us have found it a nuisance when 

 fishing from a pier or breakwater. 



The Cornish Sucker (Lepadogaster gouani) so called because it was first 

 found on the Cornish coast is 4 inches long, with a distinct red or crimson 

 tint. It is provided with discs or suckers, by means of which it can attach 

 itself to rocks or weeds. It is one of a family of SUCKERS (Liparis), which 

 may be found under stones at low water. The Two-spotted Sucker (Lepado- 

 gaster bimaculatus), 2 inches in length, is identified by the eye-like spot on 

 each side behind the pectoral fin. 



The Worm Pipe Fish (Syngnathus lumbriciformis), a relation of the SEA- 

 HORSE, is a long snake-like fish with a remarkable mouth, the two jaws of 

 which are united into a long thin tube or beak. 



The Greater Pipe Fish (5. acus) is much larger, 12 to 15 inches, and the 

 males have a pouch (like that of the kangaroo), inside which the female 

 transfers her eggs, and the young use it as a shelter for the first few days of 

 their life. 



THE ROCKLINGS 



are not unlike the Gunnels, but rounder in shape and deeper in colour. 

 They may be distinguished by the barbs on their jaws. The Five- 

 bearded Rockling (Motella mustela) has four barbs on the upper and one on 

 the lower jaw, the Three-bearded Rockling has two on the upper and one 

 on the lower jaw. These fish build a sort of nest by packing fragments of 

 coralline into a crevice, where they deposit their eggs. 



The FIFTEEN-SPINED STICKLEBACK has already been referred to above. 



The Lesser Weever (Trachinus vipera) may also be found occasionally 

 half buried in the sand. It possesses a sharp spine on each side of the gill 

 covers, which will inflict a bad wound if any attempt is made to catch the 

 fish in the hand. 



