Class IV. LUMP SUCKER. 177 



gills ; and on each side the belly a fourth row^ 

 consisting of five tubercles like the other ; the 

 whole skin is rough, with small tubercles. 



On the upper part of the back is a thick ridge 

 improperly called a fin, being destitute of rays; 

 beneath that is the dorsal fin, of a brownish 

 hue, reaching within an inch of the tail ; on the 

 belly, just opposite, is another of the same 

 form ; the belly is of a bright crimson color ; 

 the tail and anal fins are purple; the pectoral 

 fins are large and broad, almost uniting at 

 their base ; beneath these is the part by which 

 it adheres to the rocks, &c. ; this consists of 

 an oval aperture, surrounded with a fleshy 

 muscular and obtuse soft substance, edged with 

 small thread-like appendages, which concur as 

 so many claspers ; by means of this it adheres 

 with vast force to any thing it pleases. As a 

 proof of its tenacity we have known, that on 

 flinging a fish of this species just caught, into a 

 pail of water, it fixed itself so firmly to the 

 bottom, that on taking it by the tail, the whole 

 pail by that means was lifted, though it held 

 some gallons, and that without removing the 

 fish from its hold. 



These fish resort in multitudes during spring 

 to the coast of Sutherland, near the Ord of 

 Caithness. The seals which swarm beneath, 



VOL. III. N 



