174 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



water; but the parasite can be overcome by placing the eel in a 

 poorly lighted tank. 



In Cayuga lake, N. Y., according to Dr Meek, the eel is not 

 common, but is occasionally taken at each end of the lake. 



W. H. Ballou makes the following remarks about their feed- 

 ing habits: 



They are among the most voracious and carnivorous 

 fishes. They eat most inland fishes except the gar and the 

 chub. . . They are particularly fond of game fishes, and show 

 the delicate taste of a connoisseur in their selections from 

 choice trout, bass, pickerel and shad. . . On their hunting 

 excursions they overturn huge and small stones alike, working 

 for hours if necessary, beneath which they find species of shrimp 

 and crayfish, of which they are exceedingly fond. . . They are 

 among the most powerful and rapid of swimmers. . . They 

 attack the spawn of other fishes open-mouthed, and are even 

 said to suck the eggs from an impaled female. . . They are owl- 

 like in their habits, committing their depredations at night. 



Family lef'xocef'halida.e 



Conger Eels 



Genus leptocephali s (Gronow) Scopoli 



Body formed as in An gull la; no scales; head depressed 

 above, anteriorly pointed; lateral line present; mouth wide, its 

 cleft extending at least to below middle of eye; teeth in outer 

 series in each jaw equal and close set, forming a cutting edge, 

 no canines, band of vomerine teeth short, tongue anteriorly 

 free; vertical fins well developed, confluent around the tail, 

 pectoral fins well developed, dorsal beginning close behind 

 pectorals; gill openings rather large, low; eyes well developed; 

 posterior nostril near eye, anterior near tip of snout, with a 

 short tube; lower jaw not projecting. Skeleton differing in 

 numerous respects from that of A n g u i 1 1 a . Vertebrae about 

 56+100. In most warm seas. This genus contains the well 

 known and widely distributed conger eel and three or four 

 closely related species. (After Jordan and Evermann) 



Lateral line in a deep, pale furrow, decurved slightly from the 

 head to below dorsal origin, very conspicuous pores in its 

 anterior third. 



