of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



171 



There were 39 females and 30 males. The females ranged in length 

 from 19 to 11 inches, but the latter specimen was immature, the smallest 

 female which was mature measuring 14 inches (35*5 cm.) and the weight 

 of the mature females ranged from 10 lbs. 12 oz. (4871 grammes) to 3 lbs. 

 12| ounces (2113 grammes), but this specimen had got rid of most of its 

 eggs. The average length of the 39 females was 15*8 inches (about 

 39cm.) and the average weight 6 lbs. 6 oz. (2889 grammes). 



The length of the males varied from 15 inches to 7% inches, the 

 smallest ripe being 9 inches (23cm.) ; the weights ranged from 10| oz. 

 (290 grammes) to 4 lbs. 6 oz. (1982 grammes) ; the former was not quite 

 mature, the minimum weight of the males that were certainly spawning 

 being 15| oz. (432 grammes). The average length of the 30 males was 11 

 inches (28cm.) and the average weight 1 lb. 14 oz. (822 grammes.) The 

 difference in the size of the males and females is thus striking. 



In June all the fish were spent or nearly so, and in July they were all 

 immature, No female was obtained after 13th June, no doubt because 

 they withdraw probably to deeper water, and the last male was got on 

 lit]] July, though the net was examined up to the middle of August. 



One of the habits of the lumpsucker well known to fishermen is the 

 guardianship by the male of the mass of eggs after they are deposited. 

 The habit was long ago accurately described by Fabricius in his descrip- 

 tion of the fishes of Greenland, and it has been referred to since by most 

 writers, though often with scepticism. Couch, for example,* is of opinion 

 that the description of Lacepede to this effect is exaggerated, and that the 

 presence of the male near the eggs is accidental. M'Intosh has given a 

 graphic and pathetic picture of the male remaining on the beach guarding 

 the eggs in a mere runlet of water after the tide had withdrawn from 

 them.t 



The authors of " Scandinavian Fishes," t quoting from Malm, state 

 that a fisherman of Bohuslan, named Johan Persson, had observed the 

 spawning of this fish for three years in succession in the same cleft of the 

 rocks at a depth of three or four fathoms ; that the male posted himself a 

 couple of feet away and " blew on the roe," besides defending it from 

 enemies, defeating the attacks even of the crab. This habit of " blow- 

 ing " upon the roe seems to have escaped the notice of naturalists ; but 

 from what follows it will be seen that the observation of the Swedish 

 fisherman was quite accurate, and that an important part of the duty of 

 the male taking charge of the eggs is to spout currents of water from his 

 mouth on them. 



I should think there are few better instances among fishes of parental 

 devotion to the progeny than what is shown by the male lumpsucker. 

 For weeks and months he devotes himself to the nursing of the eggs with 

 the most remarkable assiduity, refusing to be driven or seduced from his 

 post ; fasting and rejecting food until almost the end of his long and 

 trying vigil : " blowing " upon them and fanning them with his fins all 

 the time to keep them well aerated and clean ; removing anything that 

 might injure them, and defending them with courage and even ferocity 

 from the attacks of foes great and small. When his task is ended and 

 the eggs are hatched it is not wonderful that he is worn-out, thin, and 

 exhausted with his zealous labours. 



Last spring four living lumpsuckers were obtained from the local 

 salmon stake-nets and brought to the Laboratory, and as two were males 



* "British Fishes," II., p. 187. 



fAnn. and Mag. Nat. Hist., XVIII., 5th Series, p. 81; Ann. Rep. Fishery Board 

 for Scotland, Part III., p. 174; M'Intosh and Masterman, "British Marine Food 

 Fishes," 183. 

 % Vol. I., p. 297. 



