THE RIVER LAMPREY, 5^ 



are probably heavy and unwholefome, more highly re- 

 commended by the epicure than the phyfician *. They 

 are taken in fuch vaft numbers in the Thames^ the Se-^ 

 vern, and the Dee, that they conflitute a confiderable 

 branch of trade. They are fold to the Dutch^ who ufe 

 them for bait in the cod fifliery : befides what are con« 

 fumed in Eftgland, 450,000 have been exported in a fea«« 

 fon for this purpofe, at two pounds per thoufand. 



The Pride f. 



JL HIS fpecies is exceedingly fmall, being from four to 

 eight inches. It is a Britifli fifh, but found alfo in the 

 rivers of of Germany and Italy. In the river IJis, and 

 other dreams near Oxford, they are abundant, where, in- 

 ftead of concealing themfelves, they roll in the mud, and 

 never are obferved to adhere to the (tones, like the other 

 lampreys J. 



The back is of a livid colour, approaching to black ; 

 the belly iilvery, and more refplendent, than the larger 

 kinds. The mouth is of an eliptical fhape ; within it 

 are fix or feven teeth, and above them a fmall femicircular 

 bone. Upon the top of the head is a fmall tube, or aper- 

 ture, like the cetaceous fiih : The belly fwells and con- 

 tracts alternately, as in thofe animals which breathe by 

 means of lungs. It has tv/o dorfaljins ; the firft rifing 

 about the middle, and fupported by fmall tendons, that 



Vol. III. N are 



* Willough. ubi fupra. 



f Lapern, or pride of the Ifis, WiU. Petromyzon Branchjalis, Lin. Sj-ft, 



'i Britilh Zoology, 



