Class IV. E E L. J45 



the nofe : the irides are tinged with red : the un- 

 der jaw is longer than the upper: the teeth are 

 fmall, (harp, and numerous : beneath each eye is 

 a minute orifice : at the end of the nofe two o- 

 thers, fmall and tubular. 



The fifh is furniflied with a pair of pectoral 

 fins, rounded at their ends. Another narrow fin 

 on the back, uniting with that of the tail y and the 

 anal fin joins it in the fame manner beneath. 



Behind the pectoral fins is the orifice to the gills, 

 which are concealed in the fkin. 



Eels vary much in their colors, from a footy hue Silver 

 to a light olive green -, and thofe which are called 

 filver eels, have their bellies white, and a remark- 

 able clearnefs throughout. 



Befides thefe there is another variety of this fifh 

 known in the Thames by the name of Grigs, and Grigs 

 about Oxford by that of Grigs or Gluts. Thefe 

 are fcarce ever {ten near Oxford in the winter, 

 but appear in fpring, and bite readily at the hook, 

 which common eels in that neighbourhood will not. 

 They have a larger head, a blunter nofe, thicker 

 fkin, and lefs fat than the common fort ; neither 

 are they fo much efteemed, nor do they often ex- 

 ceed three or four pounds in weight. 



Common eels grow to a large fize, fometimes 

 fo great as to weigh fifteen or twenty pounds, but 

 that is extremely rare. As to inftances brought 

 by Dale and others, of thefe fifh encreafing to a 

 fuperior magnitude, we have much reafon to fufped 



Vol. III. I. them 



