THE MACKREL. 231 



Short duration of the lamprey's life. 



pliant, as to keep it in a proper degree of warmth 

 in the watery element. Two lymphatic glands, 

 extending on each side from the head to the tail, 

 serve to separate this mucus, and furnish it in 

 great abundance. 



The lamprey has no other intestines than one 

 great bowel, running from the mouth to the 

 vent, wide in the middle, but narrow at both ends. 

 The simplicity of its appetite perfectly corre- 

 sponds with the simplicity of its conformation,; 

 for its food seems to be either slime and water, 

 or such small insects as are scarcely visible. 

 When it comes into our rivers, it is hardly per- 

 ceived to eat any thing; though in its native 

 element, the sea, perhaps its appetite may be 

 more active. 



The existence of the lamprey is of very short 

 duration: after casting her eggs, she becomes 

 flabby and exhausted, appears prematurely old, 

 and two years generally puts a termination to her 

 natural life. 



THE MACKREL, OR MACKAREL, 



THE common mackrel has a thick, round, 

 fleshy body, but tapering towards the tail, which 

 is bifurcated. Its body is of a very elegant form, 

 and beautifully variegated with the brightest hues 

 of blue, green, and a silvery whiteness. Death 

 in some measure impairs the colors, but it by 

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