FAMILY ANGUILLID,£ ANGUILLA. 313 



The characters noted above announce a new generic group in this family. Some years 

 since, I arrayed this as the representative of a new genus Isognatha, in a catalogue of New- 

 York fishes ; but it is evidently improper to form such generic subdivisions without examining 

 the specimens upon which they are founded, and such an opportunity has never presented 

 itself. I have seen it in detached portions for sale in the market, but have never examined a 

 perfect individual. It may possibly be included under Conger, with a slight alteration of the 

 characters of that genus. Such a change is already being attempted by some of the English 

 ichthyologists. In Cuvier, the lower jaw is said to be shortest in all the known species. 

 Parnell, in his generic characters of Conger, says "lower jaw not projecting beyond the 

 upper." 



THE BULL-HEAD EEL. 



Anguilla macrocephala. 

 Murana macrocephala, Bull-head Eel. Lesdeur, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 1, p. 82. 



Characteristics. Head very large and elevated. Olive yellow above, with a golden band 

 from the angle of the mouth, extending beyond the pectoral fin. 



Description. Snout short ; lower jaw reflected. Head very large and elevated. Eyes 

 large and prominent. Pectoral and anal fins reddish. Dorsal and anal fins terminating in a 

 point. 



Color. Above olivaceous yellow; the lower jsarts pure white. 



Inhabits Saratoga lake. Mr. Lesueur states that it is a good table fish, and that he has 

 seen, in the market of Philadelphia, an eel so nearly resembling the above, that he would be 

 unwilling to consider it as distinct. 



(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 



A. bostoniensis. (Lesueur, 1. c. Vol. 1, p. 81.) Greyish brown above; greyish beneath. Vent 



yellow ochre. Length twenty-four inches. Northern Coast. 

 A. argentea. (Id. lb. p. 82.) Body much compressed. Silvery grey above, separated from the silvery 



white abdomen by a distinct lateral line. Length two feet. Northern Coast. 



Fauna — Part 4. 40 



