of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 
253 
DISCOBOLI. 
LuMPSUCKER {Cijclopterus lumpus). 
Three specimens were exaQiined, obtained by Mr Peter Jamieson at 
Dunbar. No. 1 on January 30, No. 3 on February 19, and No. 2 on 
March 24. The particulars are as follows : — 
Length of 
Fish 
(in inches). 
Weight 
oK 
Fish. 
Weight of 
Ovaries 
(in grains). 
Weight of 
part taken 
(in grains). 
Number of 
Ova 
counted. 
Total 
Number 
of Ova 
in Ovaries. 
1 
2 
3 
18| 
10 lb. 10 oz. 
7h lb. 
10 lb. 9^ oz. 
13,344 
13,563 
13,781 
656-2 
437-5 
656-2 
6746 
3572 
3798 
136,764 
110,732 
79,758 
The ova were of different, but graduated, sizes in the first specimen, 
varying from 2-16 mm. to 1 '56 mm. In No. 2 they were more equal in size, 
ranging about 2*2 mm. ; a few were larger (2-34 mm.) and some smaller 
(1-8 mm.) In all cases, and in a number of others examined, the eggs 
were of a rosy tint, and this seems to be the normal colour when the ova 
are deposited, although they may subsequently turn greenish, the change 
in tint being apparently due (as some experiments I made seem to show) to 
exposure to light. Masses of ova from the rocks, green on the surface, 
show the rose-tint towards the centre on being broken up. Each fully- 
developed egg of the lumpsucker weighs a little less than one-eighth of a 
grain. The lumpsucker is apparently the most fecund of sea-fishes having 
glutinous demersal ova. The uniformity of growth throughout the mass 
of the ovaries is connected with the great rapidity of the deposition of 
the ova. Bloch* states that in a lumpsucker weighing 6J lbs., in which 
the ovaries weighed 2 lbs. ^ oz., he found 207,700 ova present. 
Diminutive Sucker {Liparis mo7itagui.) 
Several specimens were examined, but, as in Cottus huhalis and some 
other forms, it was found very difficult to give a numerical expression to 
the fecundity. One sent by Professor M'Intosh on 9th March measured 
2-6g. inches in length, and weighed 65 grains. The ovaries weighed 
(V)arely) 10 grains. On opening the abdominal cavity a number of large 
eggs came out isolated ; they were pale yellow and translucent, and 
practically uniform in size {1 to 1'2 mm.). There was a considerable 
number of smaller ova (0-7 to 0*6 mm.), most of which were easily 
separable ; but the posterior dorsal portion of the ovary consisted of a 
mass of exceedingly minute eggs (0-25 to 0*04 mm.), which I did not 
attempt to count. The large clear ova numbered 537, the intermediate 
size 256. In a second specimen (length, 2| inches ; weight, 66 grains) 
he ovaries weighed 4J grains, and were in the same condition. 
BLENNIIDJE. 
Catfish (Anarrhichas lupus). 
The ovaries of this fish were obtained by Mr Jamieson at Dunbar on 
28th May, but he was unable to obtain the fish itself, so that its length 
and weight cannot be given. The two ovaries were firmly welded to- 
gether by fibrous tissue, and weighed 2003 grains. The ova were dull 
amber-coloured or pale olive, adhering in groups or strings, the great mass 
consisting of ova of nearly uniform size (2*1 to 2*5 mm.). Along with these 
* Ichtyologie ou histoire naturelle generate et particulidre des poissons, Part II. 
p. 92, 1785. 
