LUMP SUCKER. Class IV. 



On the upper part of the back is a thick ridge 

 improperly called a fin, being deftitute of fpines ; 

 beneath that is the dorfal fin, of a brownifh hue, 

 reaching within an inch of the tail : on the belly, 

 juft oppofite, is another of the fame form. The 

 belly is of a bright crimfon color : the ped:oral fins 

 are large and broad, almoft uniting at their bafe. 

 Beneath thefe is the part by which it adheres to 

 the rocks, &c. It confifts of an oval aperture, fur- 

 rounded with a flefhy mufcular and obtufe fofc 

 fubfi:ance, edged with fmall threaded appendages, 

 which concur as fo many clafpers : tail and vent 

 fins purple. 



By means of this part it adheres with vail force 

 to any thing it pleafes. As a proof of its tena- 

 city we have known, that on flinging a fifh of this 

 fpecies jufl: caught, into a pail of water, it fixed 

 itfelf fo firmly to the bottom, that on taking the 

 filh by the tail, the v/hole pail by that means was 

 lifted, though it held fome gallons, and that with- 

 out removing the fifh from its hold. 



Thefe fifli refort in multitudes during fpring 

 to the coafl of Sutherland, near the Ord of Caith- 

 7tefs. The feals which fwarm beneath, prey great- 

 ly on them, leaving the fkins; numbers of which 

 thus emptied float at that feafon afhore. It is eafy 

 to diilinguifh the place where feals are devouring 

 ?his or any undluous filh, by a fmoothnefs of the 

 water immediately above the fpot : this facV is 

 new eftabliihed j it being a tried property of oil to 



ftiU 



