346 THE POUCHED LAMPREY. 



Like the sea lamprey, it scoops hollows in the pebbly bed of some stream for the 

 purpose of depositing its eggs, and removes the stones in like manner. Sometimes a pair 

 of Lamperns settle upon one spot, and by dint of tugging and hauling, make a cradle for 

 their special benefit. But it often happens that a great number of these fish, fifty or sixty 

 for example, will settle themselves in the same locality, and make a hollow as large as the 

 rim of an ordinary pail. 



They present a very quaint appearance while thus engaged. An inexperienced 

 observer would hardly take the black wriggling mass to be composed of fish, but rather to 

 be a collection of decaying weeds, agitated by the ripple of the stream. Soon, however, 

 these masses can be resolved into their constituent elements, and are gradually analysed 

 into the long, slender bodies of the Lampern, all holding by their mouths to the pebbles, 

 and writhing their tails at a wonderful rate, reminding the observer of a lamb's tail while 

 the little creature is taking nourishment. 



Every now and then one of their number becomes detached, and is swept down the 

 stream, carrying with it a stone which it has found to be objectionable ; and after it has 

 dropped the stone some few yards down the river, it maybe seen to work its way up anew, 

 and regain its former position. Certain parts of rivers are particularly favoured by the 

 Lampern, and year after year these fish may be found in precisely the same spots. 



The flesh of the Lampern is remarkably excellent, and in many places, remote from its 

 habitation, is in great repute, and is indeed admired by many who have not the least idea 

 of the fish they are eating. A large part of the eel pies so famous in the metropolis is 

 composed of Lampern flesh, and in the opinion of competent judges the substitute is 

 better than the reality. It can be dressed in a variety of ways, stewing and potting being 

 the favourites. Yet, as a general rule, the poorer portion of the community refuse to eat 

 the fish, and suffer the pangs of cruel hunger rather than avail themselves of the rich 

 banquet at their very doors. 



It is pitiful to see how much nutritious and palatable food is annually wasted through 

 prejudice and ignorance ; and none could confer greater benefits on the country than he 

 who would teach the poor, by precept and example, how to avail themselves of the food that 

 lies wasting at their feet. It would be a work of many years, and the rooted prejudice of 

 the old would never be overcome ; but the coming generation might receive the lesson, 

 and if the community can be taught to appreciate the value of edibles already existing, 

 they receive just the same benefit as if they were taught how to produce an entirely new 

 article of consumption. 



The Lampern was once in great request as bait for cod and turbot, but seems of late 

 years to have gone out of fashion. 



Along each side of the neck are seven round holes, leading to the respiratory apparatus, 

 and a single aperture on the top of the head is also connected with that organ. The eye 

 is round, and set rather far back. The mouth is nearly circular, and is well supplied with 

 teeth. The general shape of the body is cylindrical for the greater part of its length, but 

 flattened towards the tail, and the colour is slaty blue above and white beneath. Its 

 length is usually about one foot or fifteen inches. 



A BEAUTIFUL adaptation of structure to circumstances is seen in the POUCHED 

 LAMPEEY, an inhabitant of the fresh waters of Southern Australia. 



This remarkable fish possesses many points of interest, among which the enormous 

 throat-pouch is the most conspicuous. In the common sea lamprey of Europe, the throat 

 is dilatable below, but in the present species the skin is distended so greatly as to form a 

 large pouch, such as is represented in the engraving. Taking into consideration the 

 frequent droughts that take place in the country where this creature lives, it is almost 

 certain that the pouch is intended to hold a supply of water, which will enable 

 respiration to be carried on during the days of drought. 



The mouth of this species is very large and filled with formidable teeth, the whole 

 interior of the disc being studded with them, and the tongue armed with two long 

 and sharp fangs that seem calculated to do good service to their owner, A fine specimen 

 of this fish is in the British Museum. 



