122 



Smith — A Neiv Species of Blind Eel. 



those of common eel of same size and placed posterior to the angle of 

 the mouth, their position indicated by a slight elevation. 



The type, B cm. long, has been deposited in the United States National 

 Museum, and is numbered 51,483 on the tish register. 



From the foregoing description it will be seen that this species closely 

 resembles A. chrii^iipn. Comparing it with a specimen of the common eel 

 of the same size, of the i)ale, translucent ty{)e, taken from a tributary of 

 Casco Bay, Maine, May 13, 1903, the most striking differences, besides the 

 absence of functional eyes, are in the length of the lower jaw and the loca- 

 tion of the eyes posterior to the angle of the mouth, as shown in the ac- 

 companying figures of these two specimens. 



Fig. 1. Comparison of type of An guilla cieca Smith (upper figure) with specimen of 

 AnguiUa chrisypa Rafinesque (lower figure) of same size. 



Although this fish was found at the surface, in a locality where the water 

 was about 50 fathoms deep, it is evident that it is a bottom species, and 

 that the type was a stray. 



