The Ocellated Sucker. 
437 
The Lump-sucker is very remarkable for the manner 
in which its ventral fins are arranged. They are united 
by a membrane so as to form a kind of oval and concave 
disc, by means of which it is enabled to adhere with 
great force to any substance to which it fastens itself. 
Pennant says, that, on throwing an individual of this 
species into a pail of water, it adhered so firmly to the 
bottom that, on taking the fish by the tail, the whole 
pail was lifted up, though it held some gallons. 
In the Northern seas great numbers of the different 
species of Lump-suckers are devoured by the seals, who 
swallow all but the skins, quantities of which thus 
emptied are seen floating about in the spring months ; 
it is said that the spots where the seals carry on their 
depredations can be readily distinguished by the 
smoothness of the water. 
THE OCELLATED SUCKER, 
(Lepadogaster cornubicus,) 
Another Malacopterygious fish, a relative of the Lump- 
