184 THE SUCKER FAMILY. 



illustrated by the occurrence early in May of a heavy sea which 

 swept masses of eggs from their positions all along the rocks. 

 As soon as the sea became calm, numerous anxious males, 

 like ' pilgrims,' were seen by the attendant of the laboratory 

 (who had been familiar with the sites) seeking for their charges. 

 Many of these masses are found on the beach, so that the state- 

 ment is probable. While on guard the males are frequently 

 attacked by rooks and carrion crows, which thrust their sharp 

 beaks through the abdominal wall, and feast on the liver of the 

 unfortunate fishes, which thus yield their lives to the faithful 

 discharge of their duty. 



As soon as the eggs were hatched, the male above referred to 

 was released, and the young scattered themselves in the rock- 

 pools in the neighbourhood in hundreds. It is unlikely, however, 

 that they were dispersed by specially adhering to the body of the 

 male, though they quickly cling to anything and even to each 

 other. Their home for some time appears to be the littoral 

 region, and especially the rock-pools, and they are occasionally 

 found in considerable numbers in August, when the larger 

 examples caught with a hand-net measured about | inch. They 

 adhere to the blades of the tangles and other sea-weeds, and in 

 the mazes of these find that safety (by the ready application 

 of their suckers) which would be denied them in the open sea. 

 They are also common in the neighbouring waters inshore, being 

 carried hither and thither on the floating littoral sea-weeds, 

 and thus frequently get into the tow-nets. 



In February and March, only ova are obtained. In May 

 the newly-hatched larvae are about 6 mm. in length or a little 

 longer. They are tadpole-like — with the remains of yolk, the 

 oil-globule occupying the right side, while the marginal fin is 

 continuous, dorsally and ventrally. The caudal has only em- 

 bryonic rays, and there is a thickening (hypural) beneath the 

 notochord in this region. The short breast-fins show indications 

 of true rays. The circulation in the vessels of the yolk-sac goes 

 on in jerks, so different from the continuously rapid currents 

 in the arteries of the tail and other parts. The dorsal aorta 

 bends downward just within the tip of the notochord. The 

 young lump-suckers swim very actively by rapid vibrations of 



