32 CATALOGUE OF FISH. 



Section II. PHANEROMYCTERES. 



Hinder nostril situated either before or over the eye, and so 

 plainly exposed that the name of Phaneromycteres may be fairly 

 applied to this section. 



The group breaks up into the following families: Anguillida, 

 MurccnidxB, Congeridcc, and Synbranchidce. 



Family I. ANGUILLIDtE. 



This second family of the Apodes is composed of the true eels, 

 which have their teeth more cardiform, gill-openings lateral, con- 

 spicuous pectorals, and the tail encompassed by the union of the 

 dorsal and anal fins. 



Sub-Family I. ANGUILLIN^. 



This sub-family embraces the eels, pi'operly so named, which have 

 head and tail both obtuse, and whose skin, in drying, exhibits im- 

 bedded scales, placed longitudinally, transversely, or obliquely. 



The major part seem to be inhabitants of the sea. Though I 

 have desci'ibed a considei'able number, yet a careful examination of 

 all seas, lakes, and rivers might detect a still greater number, which 

 as yet remain unknown to naturalists. I commence with the 

 large-eyed species of Southern Europe, which have a very short 

 snout. 



A. Large-eyed species, with abbreviated snouts. 



63. Anguilla Kiekeri, fig. 15. 



Diagn. Diameter of the large eye somewhat exceeding the short 

 snout in length. 



At the first glance, one might be tempted to consider this species 

 as the type of a new genus ; but on a strict comparison of it with 

 the following three species, which have conical teeth, it does not 

 appear to be distinguished from them by any important assemblage 

 of characters ; and were we to constitute a new genus for its recep- 

 tion, the other three must also be included in it. 



This species is greenish, dotted with black, lighter on the under 

 side. Entire length, 11 -03 in. To the anus, 4-92 in. To the 

 angle of the mouth, 0-39 in. To the gill-opening, 1-58 in. To the 

 beginning of the dorsal fin, 3-43 in. Length of the pectoral, 0-83 

 in. Height of the body, 0*47 in. 



The forehead is rendered concave by the enormous eyes rising 

 above it. The body is peculiar in being equally thick for nearly its 



