322 CARTILAGINEI. PETROMYZONID^. 



means, the formation of a fit receptacle for the 

 deposited spawn. The Lamprey {Petromyzon 

 marinns, Linn.) ascends the rivers of Scotland 

 to breed about the end of June, and remains in 

 them until August. These fishes " are not fur- 

 nished with any elongation of the jaw, afforded 

 to most of our freshwater fish, to form the re- 

 ceiving furrows at this important season; but 

 the want is supplied by their sucker-like mouth, 

 by which they individually remove each stone. 

 Their power is immense. Stones of a very large 

 size are transported, and a large furrow is soon 

 formed. They remain in pairs, two on each 

 spawning place, and while there employed, retain 

 themselves afl[ixed by the mouth to a large stone." 



The curious sucking-mouth is also serviceable 

 to these fishes in enabling them to prey upon 

 other fishes, which otherwise they would be ill- 

 calculated to molest. They are known to attack 

 fishes of large size, by fastening upon their flesh, 

 and while affixed eating away the soft parts 

 down to the bone, with their numerous small 

 rasp-like teeth. 



This species is called the Sea Lamprey to 

 distinguish it from another, the River Lamprey, 

 called also Lampern (P. fluviatilis). The latter 

 is a permanent inhabitant of fresh water, but the 

 former only ascends the rivers to spawn. Both 

 are in high repute for the table, but the Lam- 

 prey is of much more value than the Lampern, 

 on account of its superior size. It attains two 

 or three feet in length ; its ground colour is 

 olive, handsomely spotted and mottled with deep 

 green and dark brown ; the edges of the fins are 

 reddish ; and the eyes are golden. 



