St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1891-10-31
Lamprcy Eels rs Stone MasOns

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Among the most remarkable OF the
stone masons or builders are the Iamprey
cells. Of all tisEes they would hardly be
accorded any especial Intelligence, and
certainly they are repeIlant creatures, the
long snake DO lies, the curious
sucker like mouth being features far from
attractive. Yet the lanpreys show not a
little intelligence in their work, and
among fishes are most remarkable as
''stone-toters. When the breeding
time arrives the cells apparently decide to
form community, all the individuals
working for the common good. If We
watch them carefully we shall see that
they are searching for stones aud pebbles.
Many go upstream, and when pebble
of suitable size is found fasten their suck
ing mouth to it, and lifting it, go strug-
Cling down the current to the site Sc
lected, where it is dropped. In the Saco
River, near its mouth, a remarkable
tower of this kind can be seen, where
the fishes have undoubtedly been work,
ing for several years. This mound is
/
arched or bent, so that it resembles the
beginning of dam. Some of the stones
are as large as half brick; so heavy, in
fact, that was it not known how they
were transported it would be considered
impossible for fish to have carried them;
but the act has been observed. When
the transportation of large stone be-
comes necessary two eels combine forces,
fastening their suoker-like mouths to the
object, and wriggliug vigorously thus
lifting it from the bottom and aided by
the current, and with many stops and
rests, bearing it down to the nest where
it IS dropped. Scores of cells may be seen
thus employed. Some work singly,
others by twos, all engaged in pilling up
the castle that is to be the home for their
little ones. With so many workers we
may we'll expect the stone fortress to
grow rapidly, and in succeeding years to
attain large size. Finally, after days
of "stone toting,' the nest is considered
ready. Now the eels may be seen
about it in numbers, and soon the eggs
are deposited, being washed into the III
terstices of the pile and there finding
protection from sly and predatory fishes
that prowI about in search of such It'd
bits.
When the eggs hatch aud the young
eels appear there is still another surprise.
The close observer might we'll be misled,
as when the little ones appear to take
possession OF the fortress, they do not re-
semble the parents, and for long time
were considered separate and distinct
fishes, and called amorcites. For three
years they are singular little creatures,
the mouth toothless and surrounded by
little feelers, even the eyes that are minute
being covered over with layer of skin.
Finally the young lampreys assume the
form of their parents, and are ready to
begin castle building themselves.
The nests Of lampreys differ to some
extent in different localities Thus some
have been seen to dig holes and deposit
their egg beneath stones or in various
hooks and corners, illustrating the fact
that among the very lowest animals we
find evidence not only of intelligence,
but an exhibition of care for the young
that calls to mind many animals much
higher in the scale of life st Louis Re-
public.