^4 THE SEA LAnPRET. 



eient Rdmaiis^ we do not hear fo many fanciful eficomi* 



nms on particular diihcs, nor fuch enormous fums paid 



to procure them. Accordingly, the lamprey known a- 



mong us, has obtained no \'ery extraordinary charadlerd 



Ic is differently eliimated, according to the feafon it was 



taken, or the place where it was fed. The bell feafori 



for them is in the months of March, April and May ; for 



they arc more firm immediately after their arrival in the 



rivers from the fait water, than afterwards. Towards 



the Summer, and in the hot weather, after they have de- 



pofited their fpawn, they are obferved to be much wafted; 



and their fi(h becomes flabby, and bad eating *. Thofe 



caught in feveral of the rivers in Ireland^ the people will 



not venture to louch f ; and throughout the whole o£ 



Scotland they are held in deteftation : while thofe takers 



by the Knglijlj in the Severrii are confidered by them as 



the mofl delicate of all fifli whatever. Prejudices, though 



of oppofite kinds, feem to operate in each of thefe cafes, 



whether in producing difguft or prediled:ion. 



At a very early period, we find, the lamprey was rec- 



lioned a great delicacy by the Knglijlo : That they are a 



heavy furfeiting food, the experience of one of their 



mor.archs fatally teftified ; for the death of Henry I. was 



occaiioned by eating too plentiful a meal of thefe fiHies J. 



Notwithftanding this accident, they feem to have conti- 



nuf'd in high efleem, becaufe We find Henry IV. granting 



proteiStion to fuch fhips as brought over lampreys for the 



table of his royal confort ; and his fucceffor iffuing out 



a warrant to IVilliam of Nantes^ for fupplying him and 



his army with theie fifhes, wherever they might happen to 



march §. 



In 



* Brhini Zoology. f GnldfmJth's Nat. Hrft 



t Fide liunic's Hilt. of England. § Rymcr ix. 544. apud Pennant^,. 



