34 6 THE POUCHED LAMPHREY. 



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 analyzed 

 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 may be seen to work its way up anew, 

 and regain its former position. Certain parts of rivers are particularly favored 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 favorites. 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 conifer 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 prej- 

 udice 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 bate for cod and turbot, but seems of late 

 years to have gone out of fasluon. 



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 color 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 

 LAMPREY, 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 disk 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 speci- 

 men of this fish is in the British Museum. 



