PISHES. 159 



■wisliing to spawn, this fish scoops a shallow hole at the 

 bottom of the water, about 15in. or 16in. in diameter, for 

 the reception of its eggs. The Lamprey removes the stones 

 by fixing itself to them by the help of its suctorial mouth, 

 and then swimming backwards down the stream, drops them 

 at some distance from the spot chosen for the ova. 



It has been said that the Lampem feeds not only upon 

 dead fish, but also upon living ones : the latter, it is recorded, 

 have frequently been caught showing the marking of the 

 rasping of the Lampem's teeth. However, none of the 

 Lampreys which I have from time to time kept ia aquaria 

 have attacked any of the fish which were confined with them — 

 at least, so far as I know. Indeed, I have found that " Seven 

 Eyes," as he is sometimes called, is very peaceful, spending 

 most of his time under the sand and gravel. He generally 

 chooses the same spot as his lair, and when he is wanted 

 he can be roused by a gentle probing with a stick. He 

 often attaches his suctorial mouth to the glass sides of the 

 aquarium, thus forming a very interesting object. As he 

 can easily climb by the help of his mouth, the tank in 

 which he is confined must be covered. The natural food of 

 the Lampern is said to be aquatic insects, worms, and dead 

 and live fish. 



The fresh-water Lamprey is from 6ia. to lOin. in length, 

 and is of a dark olive-brown on the upper part of. its body, 

 and silvery beneath. This fish can be caught in a hand-net 

 when seen in masses, as already described, or when making 

 its way alone up the stream. I have also taken it by passing 

 the hand-net along the overhanging sides of the stream or 

 river. 



There are some very beautiful little fish called Paradise 

 Fish {Osphromenus Olfax*}, which are in every way suitable for 

 the aquai'ium. They were taken from a brook near Canton, 

 China, and brought to France by M. Simon, who was French 

 consul at Ningpo. These fish, up to the time of their intro- 

 duction into Europe in 1869, were said to be unknown to 



* 1 am indebted to Mr. E. A. R. Bennett, author of "Marine Aquaria" 

 (London: L. Upcott Gill), for the scientific name of this fish. 



