Fishes of Brookkaven^ L. I. 279 



scribed by Dr. Dckay, I believe that it is as yet destitute of a 

 specific name. If this, however, shall prove to be true, the 

 conferring of the name belongs of right to the one by whom 

 the fish has been already most carefully and accurately de- 

 scribed. 



The present species is not uncommon on Long Island, and 

 is often called the sea-jlounder. 



AcHiRus MOLLIS. Mitch. 



This fish is very rare ; I saw but three specimens during a 

 residence of three years on the island. It occasionally 

 ascends fresh water streams, as in October, 1841, a very fine 

 specimen was obtained near Hartford, Conn., forty miles from 

 salt water. It was presented to the Hartford Natural History 

 Society, by Mr. C. H. Olmstead, and is now in their col- 

 lection. 



Anguilla bostoniensis. Le Sueur. 



This eel, the only one which I was able to find on the 

 island, inhabits the creeks and bays in myriads ; a vast sup- 

 ply is sent from the South Bay to the New York markets. 

 On the approach of cold weather, commonly in November, 

 they retire into the mud and become torpid, remaining so till 

 May, in which condition many of them are caught with 

 spears. During the whole summer they are active, but much 

 more so by night than by day. Advantage is therefore often 

 taken of this habit to spear them by fire-light, and in this 

 manner great numbers are caught. Their food consists 

 chiefly of various small fish, for which they lie in wait, con- 

 cealed in the mud or eel-grass, and they in their turn, furnish 

 a large and excellent amount of food for the inhabitants of 

 the island. 



This is unquestionably the species referred to by Dr. Mitch- 

 ill as the Anguilla vulgaris, though his description is very 

 short. It is with equal certainty the tenuirosiris of Dr. Dekay ; 

 but as Dr. Storer assures me that Dr. Dekay's species is identi- 

 cal with the common eel of Massachusetts, of course the name 



