22 Mr. Thompson on Fishes new to Ireland. 



stated to differ much in appearance and voracity from that 

 species. A very intelligent fisherman at another part of the 

 lake, distinguishing it by the name of " Gorb-eel," bore testi- 

 mony to its voracious propensity*. He believes it to live 

 chiefly on pollans (Coregonus Pollan), from the circumstance 

 of having frequently known it to destroy these fishes when in 

 the nets. He considers this species to be stationary in the 

 lake, where it is sought for during summer with night lines, 

 generally baited with very large worms or small perch : about 

 5 lbs. is the greatest weight he has known it to attain. 



In Belfast market I subsequently saw quantities of this eel 

 from the above locality, when they proved to be the A. lati- 

 rostris. On pointing them out to an angling friend, I was as- 

 sured that he had seen similar eels from Lough Erne on sale 

 in Enniskillen. A correspondent writing from Portumna, in 

 allusion it is presumed to this species, mentions a large- 

 mouthed eel, which preys much on fish, as an inhabitant of 

 the river Shannon. 



Mr. Yarrell observes, " In its habits the broad-nosed eel 

 has not been distinguished by any peculiarity that I am aware 

 of from the other common eel" (vol. ii. p. 299), but the follow- 

 ing circumstances incline me to believe, in addition to what 

 has been mentioned, that there is a further difference in this 

 respect. On looking over some thousand eels, taken in the 

 nets at Toome on the night of the 24th of Sept., I did not re- 

 cognise one of the broad-nosed species, nor have I seen it 

 among eels brought from this place to Belfast market, nor 

 again with the A. latirostris exposed here for sale, have I de- 

 tected the common eel ; but as it is from an examination in a 

 very few instances that I speak, this may perhaps apply only 

 in general terms. The season at which the two species are 

 brought to this market is different, the time for the A. lati- 

 rostris being summer, and autumn for the A. acutirostris. 

 The intelligent fisherman before noticed states, however, that 

 he has taken both species on his night lines at the same time. 

 He knew the broad-nosed from the common eel before it ap- 

 peared at the surface, by the greater resistance offered, and 



* Hence probably the name " Glut Eel," by which it was known to Pen- 

 nant. 



