FISHES OF NEW YORK 17 



This lamprey ascends the small streams in the sprint, to 

 spawn jr:st as the silver lamprey does. It is parasitic and its 

 spawning habits are similar to those of the sea lamprey It 

 clmgs to stones and clods of earth while depositing its eggs and 

 is believed by some persons to die after spawning. The prob- 

 ability is that it goes to deep water where it remains till the 

 spawning season again approaches. 



May 8, 1886, Prof. Gage and Dr Meek caught five specimens in 

 Cayuga lake inlet. More of them were seen but not captured. 

 May 22 they visited the inlet a second time but saw no speci- 

 mens. 



The five individuals obtained were all males, and all were 

 busily engaged in building nests. They ascend the inlet to 

 spawn about two weeks earlier than the large lake lamprey, and 

 in smaller numbers. 



The life history of the brook or small black lamprey is well 

 related by Prof. Surface in the articles referred to in the notes 

 on the lake lamprey. 



Class PISCES 



Subclass SELACHII 



Sharks and Skates . 

 Order asterospondyli 



Typical Sharks 



Family pseudoxria^icidae 



Genus pseudotriakis Capello 



Body elongate; mouth wide, with a very short labial fold 

 around the angle; snout depressed, rounded, moderately long; 

 nostrils inferior, near the mouth, but not confluent with it ; eyes 

 oblong, lateral, without nictitating membrane; spiracles well 

 developed behind the eye; gill openings moderate, in advance of 

 the pectoral; jaws armed with numerous rows of small, tricuspid 

 teeth; first dorsal fin, opposite the space between pectorals and 

 ventrals, long and low, gradually increasing in hight posteriorly; 

 second dorsal behind ventrals, opposite and similar to anal; ven- 

 trals and pectorals well developed; no pit at the root of caudal 



