CORNISH SUCKER. S65 



the families. The pectoral fins in these fishes are large, 

 descending to the inferior surface of the body, where they are 

 joined by four strong rays, and, united by a membrane to a 

 similar structure on the opposite side, form the boundary of 

 an adhesive disk. In the species of the first genus, a second 

 disk is formed by the union of the ventral fins. 



The few species belonging to this small family are very 

 remarkable for the power they possess of attaching them- 

 selves to stones, rocks, or other substances, by means of the 

 adhesive apparatus on the under surface of their bodies, ap- 

 parently deriving some degree of protection and support from 

 the contact. 



The two British species belonging to the first genus are 

 small, defenceless, their bodies smooth, without scales ; and 

 the power of attaching themselves to stones, &c. which they 

 are seen to exercise, may be useful by enabling them to resist 

 the action of strong currents or dashing waves, and is perhaps 

 applicable with them to other uses, with which naturalists are 

 not yet acquainted. 



The first prettily-marked species of Sucking-fish was dis- 

 covered by Dr. Borlase, who found it on the coast of Corn- 

 wall, and described it under the name of the Lesser-Sucking- 

 fish, in his Natural History of that county. Pennant 

 afterwards found it at Jura, in the Hebrides, and called it in 

 consequence the Jura Sucker ; but if any name indicative of 

 a peculiar geographical locality is admissible, it ought to have' 

 been that only in which it was first discovered ; and I have 

 therefore followed Dr. Fleming and Mr. Jenyns in calling it 

 the Cornish Sucker, although this name is not entirely free from 

 objection, two other species of fishes, provided with suckers, 

 being found in Cornwall. Mr. Couch says, however, that this 

 fish is there called pre-eminently the Sucking-fish by fisher- 

 men, from the readiness with which it adheres to any substance, 



VOL. TI. T 



