IIIJULS. 611 



The lamprey much resembles an eel in its general a|)pearance, 

 but is of a lighter colour, and rather a clumsier make. It differs 

 however in the mouth, which is round, and placed rather ob- 

 liquely below the end of the nose. It more resembles the moutli 

 of a leech than an eel ; and the animal has a hole on the top of 

 the head through which it spouts water, as in the cetaceous kind. 

 There are seven holes on each side for respiration ; aiul the fins 

 are formed rather by a lengthening out of the skin, than any set 

 of bones or spines for that purpose. As the mouth is formed 

 resembling that of a leech, so it has a property resembling that 

 animal, of sticking close to and sucking any body it is applied to. 

 It is extraordinary the power they have of adhering to stones ; 

 which they do so firmly, as not to be drawn off without some 

 difficulty. We are told of one that weighed but three pounds, 

 and yet it stuck so firmly to a stone of twelve pounds, that it 

 remained suspended at its mouth, from which it was separated 

 with no small difficulty. This amazing power of suction is sup- 

 posed to arise from the animal's exhausting the air within its 

 body by the hole over the nose, while the mouth is closely fixed 

 to the object, and permits no air to enter. It would be easy to 

 determine the weight this animal is thus able to sustain ; which 

 will be equal to the weight of a column of air of equal diametei 

 withthe fish's mouth. 



From some peculiarity of formation, this animal swims gene- 

 rally with its body as near as possible to the surface ; and it 

 might easily be drowned by being kept by force for any time 

 under water. Muralto has given us the anatomy of this animal ; 

 but, in a very minute description, makes no mention of lungs. 

 Yet I am very apt to suspect, that two red glands tissued with 

 nerves, which he describes as lying towards the back of the head, 

 are no other than the lungs of this animal. The absolute ne- 

 cessity it is under of breathing in the air, convinces me that it 



towards the head there is the appearance of a lateral line, tlie fins arc of a 

 violet colrmr ; and the second dorsal fin aiiffulatc. 



The I.dtnpern is also an inhabitant of the Enropoan rivers, particularly 

 the Isis, near Oxford ; is from six to seven inches long. It conceals itself 

 under stones, or in the mud, an<l does not adhere to stones like the others ; 

 the body is round, and tapering at each end, and luuiulate ; it is of a ffreen- 

 ish colour ahove, yellowish at the sides, and white hencalh ; the mouth i« 

 lohate, and without teeth ; the flns are hardly a line broad ; the second dor 

 6al fill i. liiicar; the tail lanceolate, and iiliaip at the end. 



