LUMPFISH. 
189 
it sinks abruptly to a flat space that is enclosed behind, 
between it and the second dorsal, with part of a circle of 
tubercles. The under jaw may be said to protrude a little; 
lips full; teeth small; nostrils tubular. Eyes elevated and 
prominent. The body slopes down towards the tail, which 
organ is a little rounded, but sometimes straight. There are 
three rows of tubercles on each side, besides the ridge of 
them along the back One of these begins a little above the 
nostrils, runs in a curved shape above the eye, and behind 
the head it runs with larger tubercles to the origin of the 
tail. Another begins a little above the root of the pectoral 
fin, and ends also at the tail; the lowermost begins near the 
sucking organ and ends close to the anal fin. The head is 
otherwise rough, sometimes also with scattered tubercles, and 
the skin of the body with small points. The pectoral fin is 
wide, and passes forward under the throat to be united with 
the narrow ventral fins, together encircling the sucking organ. 
Twenty rays in the pectoral; second dorsal and anal fins opposite 
each other; the first with nine rays, the second with eight. 
Tail with nine rays; outline of the fins generally waved. There 
are perpendicular lines at that part of the body where the 
greatest motion is exerted. In young individuals the prevailing 
colour is green; when older a blue tint succeeds; which in the 
larger females at last becomes black, except beneath. The male 
is, at least in the breeding season, of a bright pink beneath,, 
as also on the fins, and a fine blue above. The bones of this 
fish are soft, as in the cartilaginous fishes. The Lumpfish is 
very retentive of life. 
