436 Fishes. 
and not unlike those ancient fragments of Roman pave- 
ments often found in this island. 
This variegated fish is found in the rivers of Amboyna 
and Japan ; its flesh is white, firm, and well tasting, like 
our perch, but it does not grow so large ; it is of a very 
voracious disposition, feeding on the young of other 
fish, some of which, two inches in length, have been 
found in its craw. The skin has both the appearance 
and smoothness of parchment. To the tremendous 
armour of its back, fins, and tail, this fish owes the 
name of Scorpion. 
THE LUMP-SUCKER, OR SEA-OWL. 
(jCydopterus lumpus.) 
Tins odd-shaped fish derives its name chiefly from the 
clumsiness of its form ; it is also called the Cock Paddle. 
Its colour, when in the highest perfection, combines 
various shades of blue, purple, and rich orange; the 
abdomen is red ; it has no scales, but on all sides sharp 
black tubercles, in shape like warts ; on each side are 
three rows of sharp prickles, and on the back two 
distinct fins. The great resort of this species is in the 
Northern seas, about the coast of Greenland ; it is also 
caught in many parts of the British seas during the 
spring season, when it approaches the shore for the 
purpose of depositing its spawn ; and in the month of 
March it may be seen at the stalls of the London mar- 
kets. This unseemly fish is usually about a foot in 
length, and ten or more inches in breadth, and some- 
times weighs seven pounds. The flesh is but indifferent. 
