Notes on the Sucker Fishes, Liparis and Lepadogaster. 143 



the old birds had bred there again that season (1883), but 

 that he had boiled and eaten the eggs. 



Colymhus septentrio'rmlis. — Winter visitant, occasionally 

 observed by Captain Macdonald, who remarks, that no doubt 

 this species formerly bred on a loch between Waternish and 

 Greshornish, called in Gaelic, " the loch of the Eed-Throated 

 Diver." Partial to Dunvegan Loch in autumn. 



Podiceps griseigena. — Casual visitant. A bird, in winter 

 dress, was shot on the Skye coast by Captain Macdonald 

 some years ago. 



Podiceps auritus. — Casual visitant. A Sclavonian Grebe, 

 in partial summer dress, was shot by Captain Macdonald on 

 Dunvegan Loch one spring. 



Podiceps fluviatilis. — Winter visitant, a few individuals 

 constantly enjoying the shelter of the Skinidin Islands, to 

 the land side of which five or six Dabchicks may be observed 

 any forenoon. I had reason to believe that a pair nested at 

 Loch Eishort in 1883, but was unable to fully verify the facts. 



IX. Notes on the Sucker Fishes, Liparis and Lepadogaster. By 

 W. Anderson Smith, Esq., Ledaig, KB. Communicated 

 by Mr J. T. Cunningham. [Plate VII.] 



(Read 16th December 1885.) 



The small species of shore fishes generically termed 

 " Suckers " by the vulgar, have scarcely had that attention 

 directed to them which their interesting character deserves. 

 For some years I have watched their movements with care 

 when opportunity offered, and endeavoured to obtain some 

 data for a more complete life-history than has yet appeared. 



The large species, Cyclopterus lumpus, has had more atten- 

 tion devoted to it ; whilst I have not been able to furnish 

 myself with local specimens to give it closer study, the ova 

 having hitherto proved in my hands less amenable to indoor 

 incubation than that of the many other fishes I have hatched 

 out. 



So many systems of nomenclature and descriptions exist, 

 that for the sake of simplicity and uniformity I will follow 



