THE XAMPREV. 
Sc) 
Section II. 
Genus V . — The Lamprey. 
Uf this gexnxsP Linmeus has enumerated only three fpe* 
c 'es, though it is probably diversified into a greater nuui- 
her of different kinds * ; his catalogue confifts of the fea 
lamprey, the river or leffer lamprey, and the pride. He 
makes mention of the murasna, that filh fo much cele- 
brated among the epicures of ancient Rome, although fo 
near ly allied to this genus, that it feems to merit a place 
there. There is a fpecies of lamprey efteemed a great 
delicacy by the modern inhabitants of Italy, different 
from ours, and probably the fame filh with the ancient 
■Murccna, as it is reared in ponds, and fed in the fame 
manner. The genuine chara&ers of thefe filhes are : A 
long and (lender lhaped body, refembling that of a fnake 5 
the Ikin has no fcales, but is covered with a lltmy gluti- 
nous mucus ; they have feven apertures for breathing 
u pon each fide, and one like the cataceous filhes upon the 
to P of the head; both the pectoral and ventral fins are 
Wanting. 
V «l. III. 
* Vil!c Sj'ft-Nat.p. J ?4 
M 
