42 EEPEODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONGER. 



It must be remembered that the young of the common eel, 

 although not so different from the adult as the larva of the conger, 

 is nevertheless perfectly transparent up to a length of about 3 inches, 

 a length fairly corresponding to 6 inches in the case of the conger. 

 These young eels or elvers are common enough in Plymouth Sound 

 in spring from February to May or June, or even later. Unlike 

 the Leptocephalus, they resemble the adult eel in shape, the body 

 being cylindrical, the head like that of the adult, having the lower 

 jaw prolonged, and the pectoral fins well developed. They also 

 have red blood, visible as a small red spot at the throat, which is 

 really the heart, the eyes are perfectly black, and there is a line of 

 black pigment along the spinal cord ; otherwise they are transparent 

 as glass. They are often found in tide pools and under stones at 

 low tide, and are caught without much difiiculty with the hand. 



I regret to say I have not met with any specimens of the Lepto- 

 cephalus at Plymouth, and if any reader of this Journal can present 

 me with some, alive or preserved, I shall be very thankful. 



