084 THE LAMPERN. 



But when it sets to work upon its nursery it takes advantage of the 

 current to help it in its labors, and, by the mingled force of the stream 

 and its own muscular action, soon contrives to carry away the pebbles 

 that would interfere with the well-being of its future young. 



The process is simple enough. When the Lamprey has fixed on the 

 convenient spot to which it is urged by its unfailing instinct, it surveys 

 the locality for a short time, and then sets vigorously to work. Fasten- 

 ing itself to one of the obnoxious pebbles, and disposing its body so as 

 to gain the strongest hold upon the rushing stream, it "backs water" 

 with wonderful energy, and fish and stone are soon seen tumbling 

 together down the current. 



In this way the Lamprey will remove stones of such a magnitude 

 that a fish of three times its dimensions would appear unable even to 

 stir them. As soon as the stone has been moved a yard or two away 

 the Lamprey wriggles its way back again, and takes possession of 

 another stone. By a repetition of this process the hollow is soon 

 made, and the industrious fish is able to deposit its eggs therein. 



The color of the Lamprey is olive-brown, spotted and mottled with 

 dark brown and deep greenish olive. Its ordinary length is from six- 

 teen to twenty inches. 



The Lampern is plentiful in many of the English rivers, and, if 

 the generality of residents near the water were only aware of its 

 excellence for the table, would soon be thinned in numbers. The 

 prejudice that exists against the eel and the lamprey is absolutely mild 

 when compared with the horror with which the Lampern is contemplated 

 in many parts of England. Not only do the ignorant people refuse to 

 eat it, but they believe it to be actually poisonous, and would sooner 

 handle an angry viper than a poor harmless Lampern. It is fortunate 

 for the fish that its evil reputation is so widely and firmly established, 

 for under the shelter of its name it passes scathless through many a 

 stream from which it would be nearly extirpated if its right character 

 and good qualities were better known. 



Granted the bad reputation, the creature certainly behaves in a 

 manner well calculated to strengthen any unfavorable reports ; for as 

 soon as grasped it writhes about in a viperine, not to say venomous, 

 fashion, and is sure to fix its sucker of a mouth on the imprisoning 

 hand. Few uninitiated captors can endure to any further extent, and 

 when they feel the cold lips pressed to the skin, and the quick suck by 

 which the fish attaches itself, they generally utter a scream of terror 

 and fling the Lampern away as far as their arm can jerk it. Yet the 

 creature has no idea of using its mouth as a weapon of ofl'ence, and 

 when it fixes itself to the hand is only seeking for a point of support as 

 a fulcrum for its struggles. 



Certainly, it has teeth, and under proper circumstances can use them 



