THE LAMPREY. 259 



CHONDROPTERYGIOUS SUCKERS. 



OF these singular fishes, there are three genera 

 known in the British seas and rivers : the LAMPREY, 

 (Petromyzon\) the PRIDE, (Ammocteles;) and the HAG, 

 (Myxine.) All these have a sucking apparatus sur- 

 rounding the mouth, by which they adhere to that on 

 which they feed, and also to stones. 



Of the LAMPREY there are two species; the sea lam- 

 prey, which is marbled with brown, yellow, and black. 

 It grows to the length of about three feet, and has the 

 second dorsal fin separated from the fin of the tail. 

 The river lamprey is bluish on the back, and silvery 

 below ; its second dorsal fin is continued all the way to 

 the tail, and its length seldom exceeds ten inches. 

 Though the one be called the sea, and the other the 

 river lamprey, the habits of these fishes are very much 

 the same. They both ascend the rivers from the sea 

 in spring, for the purpose of spawning, which they do 

 about March or April, and return to the ocean again 

 about June. When in season, the lamprey is accounted 

 a very delicious fish ; and both ancient and modern 

 history record instances of persons having died from 

 eating it to excess. The mouth is a curious structure. 

 The sucker consists of a border without the lips, ex- 

 hibiting an outside row of papillas of a conical shape, 

 and two or three rows of fringes within. With this it 

 adheres very firmly, though without preventing the 

 action of the mouth. There are two primary or fast 

 teeth, one with two points above, and one with seven 

 below. There are several rows of moveable teeth 



