126 J. E. LITTLEBOT — THE BULBOENE AND GADE, 



reported a take of three-huntlred weight on one occasion at the 

 Watford Mill.* 



The eel was formerly supposed to supply a connecting link 

 between serpents and fishes. They are in reality perfectly distinct; 

 the skeleton and internal organs of the two animals diifering in 

 essential particulars. The following anecdote, the correctness of 

 which I can positively answer for, seems to indicate that it is 

 even yet possible to mistake the one for the other. A gentleman, 

 residing near London, possessed and petted two foreign snakes. One 

 morning both of them were missing, and, much to his chagrin, 

 could never again be found. Some days afterwards he accidentally 

 heard of an extraordinary incident which had occiirred next door. 

 Two live eels had appeared, so it was asserted, much to the 

 astonishment of the cook, upon the kitchen sink. His neighbour 

 informed him that he supposed they must have found their way 

 up the drain. "But," said he, "they were remarkably fine ones; 

 we had them cooked for dinner, and they turned out delicious." 

 Probably the advent of the two eels upon the kitchen sink of the 

 one house will satisfactorily explain the simultaneous disappear- 

 ance of the two tame snakes Irom the adjoining establishment. 

 Surely there is abundant truth in the old English proverb — 

 " Where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise." 



The Lampeejt or E,iver Lamprey [Petromyzon fluviatilis). — I 

 have been able to obtain but little information respecting this 

 ungainly and worm-like-looking fish. I believe it to be tolerably 

 abundant in the Gade. Two years ago a small lampern found its 

 way through the iron pipe that supplies water to my fernery, and 

 remained in the little basin for several days ; on one occasion, 

 when disturbed, it left the water and attempted to climb the stones 

 which form the small rockwork, and at last managed completely to 

 hide itself from observation. Whether it succeeded in reaching the 

 canal I cannot tell, but I never again saw it. At Cassio Bridge 

 the lamprey is abundant. Groups of more than a score may some- 

 times be seen in the watercress-beds of that locality ; they appear 

 to fasten themselves to the bottom by suction, and their bodies 

 wriggle about in continuous motion. Thames lamperns were 

 formerly sold to Dutch fishermen, by the thousand, as a bait for 

 cod, turbot, and other fish. 



Crayfish and mussels do not belong to the class now under con- 

 sideration, the former is a crustacean, the latter a mollusc ; but 

 while treating of the Natural History of the Gade, perhaps I may 

 be allowed to state that, during the past summer, crayfish have 

 been unusually abundant in the stream at Hunton Bridge. Our 

 table has on more than one occasion been ornamented with a hand- 

 some dish of them, and a more delicate relish it is difficixlt to meet 

 with. I may further state that whenever the water of the canal is 

 drawn down a largo quantity of mussels is always to bo found. I 

 asked a workman the other day whether he thought that most of 



* ' Transactions,' Vol. I, p. 177. 



