PISCES— EEL. 745 



THE CONGER EEL.i 



The conger eel grows to an immense size, and its fierceness is equal to 

 its magnitude ; they have been taken ten feet and a half long, and eighteen 

 inches in circumference in the thickest part. They differ from the common 

 eel not only in their size, but in being of a darker color, and in the form of 

 the lower jaw, which is shorter than the upper. They are extremely vora- 

 cious, and prey upon other fish, particularly upon crabs, when they have cast 

 their shell. The fishermen are very fearful of the large congers, lest they 

 should endanger their legs by clinging round them ; they therefore kill them 

 as soon as possible, by striking them on the navel. In April, 1808, one was 

 taken at Yarmouth, England, which knocked down its captor before it could 

 be secured. On the coast of Cornwall, these fish constitute a considerable 

 article of commerce, where they are salted and dried, and afterwards ground 

 to powder, which is purchased by the Spaniards, for the purpose of thicken- 

 ing their soups. 



THE ELECTRICAL EEL2 



Is common in South America. It is from three to five feet in length, and 

 ten or twelve inches in circumference in the broadest part of the body ; and 

 has the capability of swimming backward as well as forward. Their color 

 is an olive-green, and the head yellow, mingled with red. The head is flat, 

 and the mouth wide and toothless. From the point of its tail to within six 

 inches of its head, extends a fin about two inches deep, and which is an inch 

 thick at its junction with the body. As there are several annular divisions, 

 or rather rugae of the skin, across the body, it would seem that the fish 



1 Conner vulgaris, Cuv. The genus Conger has the dorsal fin commencing near the 

 pectoral fins, or over them ; upper jaw longer than the under. 



2 Gymnotus electricus, Lin. The characteristics of this genus are, bronchial openings 

 in part closed by a membrane opening before the pectoral fins ; anus placed much forward, 

 the anal fin running along the greater part of the body ; no dorsal fin ; skin without per 

 ceptible scales. 



94 63 



