218 FISHES. 



Gobiesoces, Lacep., 



There are none of these douhle borders, and consequently the interval 

 between the pectorals and ventrals is not divided into a double disk, 

 forming but a single large one cleft on the two sides, and extending itself 

 tbere by membranes. The dorsal and anal are short and separate from 

 the caudal, and the branchial openings much larger*. 



Cyclopterus, Lin. 



The Suckers have a well-marked character in their ventrals, the rays 

 of which suspended round the pelvis, and united by a single membrane, 

 form an oval and concave disk, used by the fish as a sucker to attach it- 

 self to rocks. The mouth is wide, and its jaws and pharyngeals furnish- 

 ed with small and pointed teeth; opercula small; branchiae closed below, 

 and provided with six rays; pectorals very large, and uniting almost be- 

 neath the throat, as if to embrace the disk of the ventrals. The skele- 

 ton hardens but little, and the skin is viscous, without scales, but studded 

 with indurated granules. There is*a large stomach with numerous caeca, 

 a long intestine and a moderate natatory bladder. We divide them into 

 two subgenera. 



Lumpus, Cuv. 



The first dorsal more or less visible, although very low, and with 

 simple rays; a second with branched rays opposite to the anal; the body 

 is thicker. 



Cyclopterus lumpus, L. ; Bl. 90; Le gras Mollet. (The Lump 

 Sucker) (a). The first dorsal so enveloped in a thick and tubercular 

 skin, that one would take it for a mere hump on the back; there are 

 three ranges of thick conical tubercles on each side of it. It feeds 

 on Medusae and other gelatinous animals, particularly in the North. 

 Its flesh is soft and insipid; heavy, and with scarcely any means of 

 defence, it becomes the prey of the Seal, Shark, &c. The male is 

 said to keep careful watch over the fecundated eggs j. 



Liparis, Ar led. 



A single dorsal, which, as well as the anal, is rather long; the body 

 smooth, elongated, and compressed behind. 



* Lepadogaster dentex, Sclin., Pall. Spic. VIII, 1, the same as the Cyclopterus 

 nudus, Lin., Mus. Ad. Fred. XXVH, 1 ( and as the Gobiesoce testar, Lacep, II, xix, 

 1; — Cyclopterus birnaculatus, Penn., Brit. Zool. pi. xxii, f. 1; — Cyclopterus liltvreus, 

 Sehn. 199. 



f The Cyclopterus pavonius is a mere variety of age of the lumpus. The Cyclop, 

 gibbosus, Will. V, 10, f. 2, appears to be the vulgaris badly stalled. Add, the Cyclop, 

 spinosus, Schn. 46; — Cyclop, minutus, (the Small Sucker), Pall., Spic. VII, iii, 7, 8, 

 9; — Cyclop, venliicosus, Id., lb. II, 1, 2, 3? — Gobius minutus, Dan. Zool. CLIV, B. 



(a) Pennant tells us that the sucker in this fish is so strong, that, when put 

 into a tub of water, it adhered so firmly to the bottom, that when it was lifted by the 

 tail the tub was raised with it.— Eng. Ed. 



