LAMPREY. 



603 



darker green and dark brown ; the margins of the fins in- 

 clining to reddish-brown ; the irides golden yellow. 



In slowly-running water, the Lamprey swims with a lateral 

 undulating motion of the body, assisted by its dorsal and 

 caudal fins : where the current is rapid, it makes successive 

 plunges forward, attaching itself quickly to any fixed sub- 

 stance that offers to secure the advantage gained. 



The figure of the fish at the head of this subject was taken 

 from an excellent drawing made by Mrs. Ley. 



Dr. Parnell says that in the Forth, above Alloa, when the 

 fishermen take the Lamprey in their nets, they invariably 

 return them again to the water, having a prejudice against 

 them. They are consequently never, under any circum- 

 stances, seen in the Edinburgh markets. 



Pennant states that it has been an old custom for the city 

 of Gloucester annually to present the Sovereign of the realm 

 with a Lamprey pie, covered with a large raised crust. 



Of this species in Cornwall, Mr. Couch, in his Fauna, says, 

 " Common, but rarely used as food." 



