PUZZLES AND PATRIARCHS. 195 



of the gills is supported by a delicate cartila- 

 ginous basket-work called the branchical basket, 

 and representing the jointed, cartilaginous 

 gulars of the sharks and the similar bony- 

 bars of the higher fishes. The body is naked, 

 and eel-like in form. 



Lampreys are marine inhabitants which ascend 

 the rivers to spawn. Years ago they ascended 

 English rivers in vast hordes, nearly four thou- 

 sand having been taken at Newark in a single 

 night; they were captured as bait for cod and 

 similar fish. More fish were caught in the 

 Severn than in any other of our rivers. 



Lampreys are carnivorous in their habits, and 

 are, on this account, the more interesting, for 

 whilst other fishes have become, so to speak, 

 quickened by their carnivorous desires, the 

 lampreys have become degraded. The sharks 

 and the mackerel, for instance, to select familiar 

 examples, have developed extraordinaiy activity 

 and general physical perfection to enable them 

 to overtake and destroy their prey. The lam- 

 preys, on the other hand, have degenerated, as 

 we have just remarked. How far this degrada- 

 tion has gone is a moot point, to which we will 

 return presently. But it is significant that the 

 species of Petromyzon fasten themselves by their 

 sucker-like mouths to other fishes, and scrape off 

 the flesh therefrom with their teeth. "Whilst 

 thus engaged," Dr Giinther tells us, "they are 

 carried about by their victim. Salmon have 

 been captured in the middle course of the Rhine 

 with the marine lamprey attached to them." 

 This apparent doggedness of purpose is really 



