THE LARVA OF THE EEL. 287 
the Leptocephali and the larval Pleuronectid originally described by 
Steenstrup as Plagusia, and probably belonging to the genus 
Rhomboidichthys. This larva is a conspicuous pelagic form in 
tropical seas on account of its large size, and in this respect and in 
its oceanic distribution differs from the smaller larve of other genera 
which are abundant on temperate shores, but whose pelagic life is 
but little prolonged. In like manner it will probably be found that 
the oceanic Leptocephali are peculiar to certain special genera 
among the Murenide. In the article printed in Neptunia, the 
Sicilian ichthyologists make no mention of the well-known oceanic 
Leptocephali, and have overlooked their existence in formulating 
their general conclusion that these larvee escape notice and capture 
by their habit of hiding at the bottom, except at Messina and 
Catania. 
With regard to the pelagic condition of the ova of Murznide, 
Grassi and Calandruccio state that they have been able from their 
own observations to confirm with complete certainty the suggestion 
of Raffaele that certain pelagic eggs described by him belong to this 
family. But they do not assert that they have identified particular 
egos with particular species. If the eggs of the conger and common 
eel are really pelagic, it is an inexplicable fact that they have not been 
identified in the course of the careful and long-continued researches 
made on pelagic ova at Plymouth and other places on the Atlantic 
coasts of Hurope. 
