14? THE LUMP, 



Genus XI. — I'be Suchr, 



'H'he Lump *. 



This tribe contains only three fpecies, all rennarkable 

 for the fingular dcforoiity of their ihape. The body is 

 deep and thick j the back arched, and the bellj diftin- 

 guiihed by an oval aperture, furrounded with a flefhy and 

 mufcular fubilance,and edged with fmall thready appenda- 

 ges, which operate as fo many clafpers. It is by means of 

 this appartus that thefe animals adhere with fuch vaft force 

 to any fubftance to which they apply themfelves. The 

 tenacity, with which the fucker adheres to the bottom, 

 has been tried by putting it into a pail of water, where 

 it fixed itfelf fo firmly, that on taking the fifh by the 

 tail, the whole veffel, with its contents, were lifted from 

 the ground, although it held fome gallons f . 



The lump fucker, which is the largeft of this genus, 

 increafes to the weight of feven pounds, and the length 

 of nine inches. The back is arched and fharp, of a black- 

 ifh colour, dilated and variegated with brown. The bel- 

 ly is flat and reddifh : it wants fins, but the whole body 

 is defended with fharp black tubercles. On each fide 

 there are three rows of large bony fcales, and on the 



back 



* Lumpus Acglorum, Will. t..BritIfb Zoologj-. 



