LAM 
in it's third region; that their fuperficies is whole; 
and that their edges are waved. Naturalifts enu- 
merate five fpecies of this genus. 
LAGOCEPHALUS. A Ipecies of orbis or 
globe-fifh, about one foot long, and half a foot 
thick. 
LAGOPUS. A claffical appellation for the 
ptarmigan. 
Lagopus is alfo fometimes ufed to exprefs the 
ifati^, an animal of the fox kind found in Lapland 
and Sib^Tia. See Isatis. 
LAMB. The young of the flieep kind. A 
Lamb of the firft year is called a wedder-hog, and 
the female an ewe-hog; the fecond year the male 
is called a wedder, and the female a fheave. Lambs 
are generally weaned when about fixteen weeks 
old. Towards Michaelmas the males fhould be 
feparated from the females; and fuch as are not 
intended for rams caftrated. See Sheep. 
LAMENTIN. A French term for the mana- 
tus or fea-cow; an animal found in various parts 
of the world, particularly America and Afia. See 
Manatus. 
LAMIA. See Shark. 
LAMIOLA. An appellation given by fome 
authors to the maltha, or forrat, a kind of fhark. 
Lamiola is alfo applied by the modern Italians 
to a fifli called in Cornwall the tope. It is a fpe- 
cies of the fqualus, denominated by the genei-ality 
of authors galeus cani^; and by Artedi, the fqualus 
with the nofirlls placed near the mouth, and fmall 
foramina near the eyes. 
LAMNE. A name given by Appian, and 
fome other Greek v/riters, to the common fhark ; 
or, as it is ufually called, the white fliark, lamia, 
and canis carcharias, of authors. It is properly a 
fpecies of fqualus; and is accurately diftinguifhed 
by Artedi under the name of the fqualus with a 
fiat back, and numerous teeth ferrated at the 
edges. 
L.AMPERN. An appellation frequently given 
to the Petromyzon Branchialis of Linnfeus, a fpe- 
cies of lamprey, called alfo the Pride of the Ifis. 
LAMPREY, LAMPETRA. A genus of 
fiflies, fo called becaufe fuppofed to lick the rocks. 
The Lamprey belongs to the genus of petromyzon 
in the Linn^ean and Artedian fyftems. 
Lam"rey, Common ; the Petromyzon Ma- 
rinus of Linnaeus. The Lamprey bears a ftrong 
refemblance to the eel, but is of a lighter colour 
and a clumfier figure. It differs alfo in the mouth, 
v/hich is round, and placed rather obliquely below 
the end of the nofe, fomiCwhat like that of the leech. 
It has alfo a hole at the top of the head, as in the 
cetaceous kinds, through which it fpouts water. 
There are feven apertures on each fide for refpira- 
tion ; and the fins are rather formed by a prolonga- 
tion of the fls:in, than any fet of bones or Ipines for 
that purpofe. 
As the mouth of the Lamprey fomewhat refem- 
bles that of the leech, fo this fifli has a property, 
like that animal, of adhering to and fucking any 
body tt> which it is applied. It polfeffes indeed a 
very extraordinary power of flicking to flones, 
from which it cannot be removed without fome 
difficulty; and one which weighed only three 
pounds, we are informed, adhered fo firmly to a 
ftone of the weight of twelve pounds, that it re- 
mained fome time fufpended by it's mouth, and 
at laft was not eafily feparated. This amazing 
power of fu6lion is fuppofed to arife from the ani- 
mal's exhauiling the air Within it's body by the 
LAM 
aperture over it's nofe; while it's mouth is fo clofely 
fixed to the object as not to permit any to enter. 
This adhefive quality of the Lamprey is pro- 
bably in fome meafure increafed by that flimy fub- 
ftance with which it's body is entirely fmeared ; 
and which ferves at once to fhelter it from the 
cold, and to keep it's ikm foft and pliant. This 
mucus is feparated by two long lymphatic canals, 
extending on each fide from the head to the tail, 
by which it is furnifhed in great abundance. 
From fome peculiarity in it's formation, this 
animal generally fwims as near as pofTible to the 
furface; and might eafily be drowned by beino- 
forcibly kept for any time under water. Mural to 
has given us it's anatomy; but, in his very m.inute 
defcription, makes no mention of lungs: however, 
the two red glands, tiffued with nerves, which he 
defcribes as lying towards the back of the head, 
are no other than the creature's lights. The abfo- 
lute neceffity the Lamprey is under of breathing in 
the air, renders it certain that the animal mufl have 
lungs, though no anatomifl has ever defcribed. 
them : and as to it's inteftines, it feems to have but 
one large gut, running from the mouth to the 
vent, narrow at both ends, and wide in the middle. 
A conformation fo extremely fimple ieems to im- 
ply an equal fimplicity of appetite. In faft, the 
Lamprey's food confifts either of flime or water, 
or fuch finall water- infecSls as are fcai-cely percep- 
tible. Perhaps it's appetite may be more craving 
at fea, of which it is properly a native; but, when 
it afcends rivers, it's fuftenance is both fmall in 
quantity and variety. 
The Lamprey ufually quits the fea, for the pur- 
pofe of fpawning, about the beginning of fpring; 
and, after an abfence of a few months, returns again 
to it's original abode. The manner in which it 
prepares for fpawning is very peculiar: it digs a 
hole in the gravelly bottom of fome river; in ac- 
complifhing which, it's fucking power is peculiarly 
ferviceable; for, if it meets with any ftone of confi- 
derable fize, it thereby removes it out of the way. 
The young are produced from eggs, after the man- 
ner of flat-fifli ; and the female remains near the 
place where they are excluded till they com.e forth. 
She is at times feen with her whole family playing 
round her; and, after,, a proper interval for their 
growth, fhe condufts them triumphantly to the 
ocean : fome, however, which have not lufficient 
ftrength to proceed, continue in the frefh water 
till they die. Indeed, the life of this fifh, accord- 
ing to Rondeletius, is but of very fhort duration; 
and a fingle brood is the utmofi: extent of the fe- 
male's fertility. As fbon as fhe has returned from 
depofiting her eggs, fhe appears exhaufled and 
flabby: fne fpeedily feels the decays of age; and 
two years generally terminate her exiftence. 
Lampreys are differently eflimated, according 
to the feafon in which they are caught, or the 
places where they have fed. Thofe which leave 
the fea, in order to depofit their fpawn in frefh wa- 
ters, are the befl; while fuch as are entirely bred in 
rivers, and have never entered the fea, are confi- 
dered as greatly inferior. Thofe which are caught 
in the months of April or May, foon after they 
have quitted the fea, are reckoned very good; 
while fuch as have caft their fpawn are flabby, and 
confequently of little value. The Lampreys of 
the Severn are preferable to thofe of any other 
Englifh river: indeed, it has been an ancient cuf- 
tomfor the city of Gloucefler to prefenthis Majefty 
annually with a Lamprey-pie; and, as the gift is 
made 
