petromyzontim:. 357 



with a suctorial disk and flexible lips. Teeth — in the maxilla two pointed teeth 

 placed close together, while the mandibular one forms a crescentic ridge with 

 from seven to nine cusps along its summit, on the tongue are four angular ridged 

 teeth placed in pairs, and their upper edge has several conical cusps. Prom seven 

 to nine rows of sharp teeth placed in oblique line, on the inner side of the sucking 

 disk, those nearest the mouth being largest and also some of them have two cusps. 

 Fins — the distance between the two dorsal fins equals about two-thirds the 

 length of the base of the first dorsal, while the second dorsal is conjoined to the 

 caudal. Skin — tough and smooth. Colours — body gray, yellowish-gray, or greenish, 

 marbled and spotted with black or brown and occasionally with yellow, as there is 

 considerable variation observed not only in accordance with the localities they are 

 found in but also with the seasons of the year. 



Names. — Lampreda, Anglo-Saxon: Lamprey, " lambere," to lick ; "petra,"a 

 stone : stone-sucker. Llysowen bend oil and Llamprai, Welsh. Sucking-fish. I was 

 informed (November, 1880) that a stuffed example existed in Cheltenham of a 

 fish which about two years previously adhered to an individual when bathing* at 

 Margate, but the owner did not know what the fish was. It was sent to me for 

 inspection, and I found it to be P. marinus, 18 inches in length. Mere-nadder, 

 see " adder," Anglo-Saxon. De Zeeprik, Dutch. La Lamproie marine, French. 



Habits. — An anadromous fish which ascends rivers to breed ; the Severn 

 fishery is considered to commence in February, at Worcester, and lasts until May, 

 when the fish having completed spawning it descends in June, a few occasionally 

 being stated to remain. In the Scotch rivers it ascends about June, according 

 to Sir W. Jardine. The mouth, when open, forms an expanded disk, the teeth 

 being brought in contact with the substance it is laying hold of ; so that by an 

 exhausting action air and water are removed, a vacuum becomes produced, and the 

 fish consequently remains fixed without the need of any muscular action. One 

 fixed to a tarry boat has been found to taste of tar, and Couch asserts that 

 although vegetable tar attracts these fish, coal-tar drives them away. They have 

 been known to attack mackerel, gurnards, coal-fish, cod, haddock, and other fish. 

 They adhere to their victims, and. eat into their substance. Lampreys will eat 

 almost any soft animal matter. They manage to tear away and swallow mouthfuls 

 of mashed up flesh, something like force-meat balls, taken from the body of their 

 victims, and fish have been captured which have recovered from these injuries. 

 This is one of the forms which lays hold of vessels so firmly as to be hardly 

 separated from them ; but it and the true sucking fish are occasionally mixed up 

 by observers. However, Pennant says, " One weighing 3 lb., which was taken 

 out of the Esk, adhering to a stone of 12 lb. weight suspended at its mouth, from 

 which it was forced with no small pains." It is often taken at sea, at some 

 considerable distance from land, but generally such specimens have been of small 

 size. 



Means of capture. — In the Severn these fish are sometimes netted along with 

 the salmon and shad, or else in weels or wicker traps laid at the bottom of the 

 river, these last being preferred, as the fish are said not to be so bruised, for in 

 the nets they roll about. In France Duhamel asserted the exact contrary opinion 

 prevails. They are mostly fished for at night. The first lamprey I saw in 1881 

 from the Severn was on March 15th, but on going to the fishermen they asserted 

 it to have been a chance capture, as at Tewkesbury they consider the season to be 

 from April to the middle of June. On May 12th some fine ones were obtained. 

 On warm sunny days a person may be gently punted to over where these fishes are 

 resting, when they are easily gaffed or speared. 



Breeding. — About April or May in the south, June in Scotland (Jardine). 

 They are in pairs at each breeding-place About the month of May they form a 

 furrow for the reception of their ova, by removing stones with their suctorial 

 mouths. They soon descend to the sea after spawning, much reduced. Thompson 

 states that a fisherman declared they remove stones by mere strength, not by 

 suction. 1 have already adverted to their being said to die after breeding. 



M. L. Ferry records (C. Rend. March 12th, 1883, p. 721) how in the early 

 part of Juno, 1874, a keeper caught in the Allier, a female lamprey adhering by its 



