342 CONGER. 



groimd from such as keep on the plain and open surface; 

 for it is found that even those which are met with in a narrow 

 stripe of sand, and more decidedly those which inhabit a 

 wide and open space, are of a light colour, and even white, 

 while the inhabitants of rocks are decidedly black, and near 

 the rocky land intensely so. There is a well-known rock on 

 the coast of Cornwall, about five leagues from the land, and 

 standing up from the plain ground which spreads to a large 

 distance round it. The top of this rock is full of gullies 

 shaded with weeds, and Congers which are caught on it are 

 always black, while close to its base these fish are always 

 white. 



It is only by night that these fish display activity, and even 

 moonlight will interfere with the success of the fishery. Their 

 appetite is variable, but at times voracious, and they exercise 

 delicate choice in what they devour. It is supposed that they 

 give a preference to prey which is of a brilliant colour, and 

 they are eager after what is alive or but very lately dead, 

 while a bait that is tainted will not be successful. They are 

 sufficiently sly or nimble to obtain Soles and Plaice, and make 

 no scruple of devouring young ones of their own kind. 

 Skulpins and even the well-armed Weevers are often found in 

 their stomachs. Fish of larger size are also their prey; and 

 an example of no unusual size was found to have one that 

 weighed ten pounds in its stomach. I have taken a lobster 

 of the largest magnitude from the stomach of a Conger; and 

 one of fifty pounds was found to have seized a Hake which 

 weighed four pounds, which it had laid hold of high in the 

 water, up which they sometimes have mounted to a depth of 

 seven or eight fathoms over the sounding of fifty fathoms. 

 Pilchards, Herrings, and Cuttles are at all times successful 

 baits; and in our description we shall point out the organization 

 of the sensations of this fish, so as to shew that it is well 

 qualified to exert great skill in the selection of its food. 

 Digestion is very speedy, and when a hook is swallowed it 

 becomes acted on and consumed in a very short time. 



The manner in which these fish were propagated lay long 

 under the veil of obscurity, as was the case with the Eel, 

 and for the same reason; but examination has shewn that the 

 milt and roe are placed along the course of the dorsal portion 



