IIAT.ITS OF TIM: I.AMI-KKYS. G77 



202. THE LAMPREY S PETROMYZONTID.S. 



In the fresh and brackish waters of the United States occur several species of the Lamprey 

 family. 



NAMES. Tin- habits of these fishes are not well understood, and in the present discussion wo 

 shall be obliged to rely to a considerable degree on the observations of European zoologists. In 

 tin- I'nitcd States the fishes, of whatever species, are generally known as "Lampreys" and "Lamper 

 Kris," these names being also in use in England, where one of the smaller species, /'. branchialin, 

 is als< known as the Pride," Prid," or " Sandpiper." The name "Nine-eye" is also common in 

 Kn-luml, a name which reappears on the continent in the "Neuuauge" and "Neunaugel" of Ger- 

 many and Austria, and the "Nejon ogon" of Scandinavia. This curious name had its origin in the 

 eye like appearance of the circular branchial openings, of which a considerable number appear on 

 either side !' the head. In the common " Nine-eye" of England, however, there are only seven, 

 and even if the eye be counted only eight, eye-like circles upon each side. In Germany the 

 name most conunohly in use is "Pricke" or "Bricke," while in France "Lamproie" is their usual 

 appellation, and in Italy " Lampreta." 



DISTRIBUTION. The Lampreys are almost the least specialized of fishes. Although in form 

 resembling the eels, they belong to a very different group, which by Gill and others of our best 

 authorities has been considered a distinct class, and are not even entitled to be called fishes. So 

 slight has been the progress in the scientific study of the Lampreys, that but little can be definitely 

 stated about their geographical distribution, excepting that they occur in the fresh waters and 

 along the coasts of the temperate regions of both hemispheres. The largest and best known 

 species, and the only one which has at present any commercial value, is Petromyzon americaniu, 

 by most authorities believed to be identical with the P. marinus of Europe,' which occurs in the 

 streams and estuaries of our eastern coast from Nova Scotia as far south at least as Cape Hatteras. 



HABITS. The key to the habits of the Lampreys is found in the peculiar arrangement of their 

 mouth. In P. marinus, according to' Emile Blanchard, this is completely circular and forms a 

 great sucker enormously capacious, surrounded by a fleshy lip studded with tentacles and sup- 

 ported within by a cartilagiuous framework. This mouth is covered over its entire interior 

 surface with strong teeth arranged in conceutric circles, some single, others double, the larger 

 occupying the central portion, and the smaller forming the exterior rows. A large double tooth, 

 situated above the aperture of the mouth, indicates the situation of the upper Jaw; a large carti- 

 lage, supporting seven or eight great teeth, represents the lower jaw. The tongue also carries 

 three large teeth, deeply serrated upon their edges. 



The structure of the intestine, which, as in the Sharks, is provided with an extensive spiral 

 valve, indicates that these animals are chiefly carnivorous in diet. They are said to feed upon 

 worms, insects, and decaying animal matter. Dr. Benecke, of Konigsberg, and others have found 

 their stomachs full of the eggs of fish. The structure of the mouth, however, would teach us, 

 even in default of observations upon their customary mode of feeding, that they are semi-parasitic 

 in their habits, attaching themselves to large fish by suctorial action, and, while attached, tearing 

 the flesh of the fish with their marvelous mincing machine, which is composed of the teeth within 

 the circular mouth, while they suck the blood of their victim. They are often found attached to 

 the larger fishes, such as shad, sturgeons, and Sharks. 



Captain Atwood states that small Lampreys of a bluish color are found attached to various 



'GtNTHKR: Catalogue of Finbee of the British Muwiun, viii, p. 501. 



