76 PETROMYZON. 



the sea, we have no doubt that the progeny would 

 be as large, in one or two generations, as any spe- 

 cimens which are exhibited from the ocean. 



Occasionally, this lamprey may be seen in broad 

 day, in a clear spot of still water, in a bend of the 

 river, with its mouth firmly fixed to a stone — 

 while its body gently waves in the water. The 

 mouth, indeed, is surrounded by a ring, which they 

 can enlarge or diminish at pleasure. When thus 

 adhering by the lips, by suction, for hours togeth- 

 er, they do not breathe : in order to exercise the 

 gills, they must first let go the hold and close the 

 jaws suddenly, to propel the volume through the 

 lateral apertures. 



The Montreal Courant says, " On Wednesday 

 last a large sturgeon was observed to leap from 

 the water into a canoe lying at the island in the 

 port, opposite the foot of St. Joseph-street. Im- 

 mediately means were taken to secure the fish, 

 which, when taken, was found to have two lam- 

 preys, about seven inches in length, sticking to its 

 body, one on the top of the head, and the other 

 on the insertion of the large fin next the gills. 

 There cannot be a doubt but the fish, in its ago- 

 nies and efforts to get rid of the lampreys, sprung 

 out of the water with such violence as to precipi- 

 tate it into the canoe in its descent. The pecu- 

 liar construction of the mouths of lampreys, show 



