BULLETIN OF THE UNITED STATES FI.SH COMMISSION. 71 



NOTEN OIV TIIE TxIFE-mSTORY OF TIIE EEL, €IfIFFL.Y DERIVED 

 FROiTI A STUDY OF RECENT EUROPEAN AUTHORITIES. 



BY G. BROlirW OOODE. 



I, Number of species of eels and the method of classification. 



a. Gunther's views, h. Dareste's views. 

 II. Number of species of eels in America. 



III. Geographical distribution of the eel. 



IV. General note on habits. — Professor Baird. 



V. Introduction of eels into new waters in the United States. 

 VI. Giinther on the life-habits of the eel. 

 VII. Benecke on the general natural history of the eel. 

 VIII. Ancient beliefs concerning the reproduction of the eel. 

 IX. Search for and discovery of the female eel. 

 X. Hunt for the male eel and discovery of Syrski. 

 XI. How to distinguish male and female eels. 



a. Internal characteristics. — Benecke and Syrski. 

 h. External characteristics. — Jacoby. 

 XII. Questions as to the viviparous nature of eels. — Benecke. 



XIII. Hunt for young eels. — Jacoby. 



XIV. Undoubted normal reproductive habits of eels. — Benecke. 

 XV. Do male eels leave the sea and enter fresh water ? 



XVI. Strange mistatements concerning the breeding of the eel. 

 XVII. Benecke on the movements of young eels. 

 XVIII. Observations of Dr. Hermes in 1881, on the conger. 

 XIX. Jacoby's tour to Comacchio in 1877 and his conclusions. 

 XX. A list of the most important books and papers concerning the eel and 

 its habits of reproduction. 



I. Number of species of eels. 



a. gunther's VIEWS. 



There is no group of fishes concerning- the classification and history of 

 which there is so much doubt as the eel family ; an infinite number have 

 been described, but most are so badly characterized or founded on in- 

 dividual or so trivial characters that the majority of ichthyologists will 

 reject them.* 



In his Catalogue of the Fishes in the British Museum, Dr. Giinther 

 has claimed to retain those as species which are distinguished by such 

 characters that they may be recognized, tbongh he remarks that he is by 

 no means certain whether really specific value should be attached to 

 them, remarking that the snout, the form of the eyes, the width of the 

 bands of teeth, &c., are evidently subject to much variation. In his 

 more recent work he remarks," Some twenty-five species of eels are 

 known from the coast waters of the temperate and tropical zones." 



* Giinther, Catalogue of Fishes British Museum, viii, j). 24. 



