SILVER LAMPREY. 401 



of shedding the spawn, and may be confined to one sex only. 

 Something similar to it is seen in what Bloch, as above referred 

 to, calls his Planer's Lamprey. 



An account of the manner in which these fish proceed while 

 shedding their spawn in one of our smaller streams, was 

 communicated to me by a fisherman who was in search of 

 Lampreys to be employed as bait; for which however this sort 

 is less valued than the Mud Lamprey, as not continuing so 

 long alive on the hook. The numbers he observed together 

 he judged to be about thirty, huddled thickly in company 

 in a shallow part of the stream with a gravelly bottom; into 

 which they had dug a small hole, and were evidently employed 

 in shedding their spawn. This was in March; and being 

 desirous of obtaining some of them, by a sudden sweep he 

 threw out of the current about a dozen; in doing which a 

 considerable quantity of the sjjawn was received into his hands. 

 The rest of these fishes immediately dispersed, and he did 

 not wait to know whether or not they assembled again. "VVTien 

 caught and placed in a tank it will throw itself over the brim, 

 but cannot be kept alive long in confinement. 



VOL. IV. 3 F 



