THE SEA LAMPREY 
9J 
ln prod of the ancient predilection of the EngliJJj fop 
'his fifli, it i s a cuflcm, from time immemorial, for 
th- city of Gloucejier to prefent annually his majefty 
%Vl th a lamprey pye, covered with a large raifed cruft. 
As the gift is made at Chriftmas, it is with great diffi- 
cu -ty the corporation can procure any frefh lampreys 
at early feafon, though they offer a fura far exceed- 
,n g their ufual price * . The various methods of taking 
lbe lampreys, it is not the buiinefs of this work to de- 
scribe. 
The fifties of this genus, from fome peculiarity isi 
tfieir conformation, generally fwim with their body on a 
kvel with the furface of the': water ; and, it is faid, can 
eafily be fuftocated, by being immerfed in it for any con- 
hderable time. From this circuit! fiance, it is probable. 
Ibat they require a conftant fupply of air for breathing, 
ancl tl,a t they are pofftffed of lungs, though no naturalift 
bas obferved them in giving an account of the vifcera of 
l hef e animals. 
Among this tribe, copulation is performed ventribu.t 
contrary to the manner of the greater number 
fifties : When engaged in the bufinefs of procreation, 
generally frequent the fhallow water, where their 
abits a dnnit of being eafily examined. The female, 
^hen ready to fpawn, digs a hole in the mud, where file 
p pofits her ova ; and in this operation, the power of 
‘cfton, w h‘ c *i we have already defcribed, is of Angular 
vantage ; for, fiiould llie meet with a ftone, though of 
"^derable bulk, ihe raiies and carries it out of the 
a 7 t. After the ova are excluded, and buried in the 
Nation tuus formed, the parent remains in the 
neigh- 
' •‘-ool. c.aL ; v . g; en . iv. f Balnerus apud Willough, 
