40 CATALOGUE OF FISH. 



This is the only species that we meet with in the German rival's 

 and hikes ; and it is, therefore, apparent that the German ichthyo- 

 logy does not enable one to decide respecting latirostris and viedio- 

 rostris. If we are to find the latirostris in Germany, we must look 

 for it in the mouths of the Elbe, since this species is partly a 

 marine, partly a fresh-water one. Our doubts respecting the dis- 

 tinctness or identity of these eels ai'e caused by want of materials 

 for comparison. 



13. African sj'tccics. 



78. Anguilla nilotica, fig. 28. 



Anguilla nilotica, Kanp. 



In a full-grown individual of this species the vomerine teeth reach 

 as far back as the palatines, and in this respect it resembles the A. 

 Aucklandi of Richardson (No. 91); but it differs from that eel in 

 having the mandible longer than the snout. The moderately-big 

 eye lies close to the forehead, and with its pupil directly over the 

 corner of the mouth. Its diameter is comprised twice in the length 

 of the snout. Pectoral somewhat longer than the mandible ; and 

 the dorsal not so high as that of Aucklandi. The distance between 

 the tip of the snout and the pectoral is contained once and a half 

 ill the length of the space that intervenes between the pectoral 

 and dorsal. 



Colour of the upper aspect, greenish; of the under one, silvery. 

 The sunken oblong scales are dotted with black. On the outside 

 the pectorals are yellowish; and within, dark and dotted. Anal, 

 yellowish. 



Tliis is a large eel. Total length, 24-42 in. Length of tail, 

 13-79 in. To the eye, 0-07 in. To the corner of the mouth, 

 0-95 in. To the pectoral, 3-23 in. To the dorsal, 7G8 in. Height 

 near the beginning of the dorsal, 1-58 in. Length of the pectoral, 

 1'14 in. A specimen, not of the greatest size, measures 25(30 in., 

 whereof the tail is 14-37 in. 



Nile (Paris Mus. Geoffr. and Olivier). 



79. Anguilla jEGyptiaca. 

 Anguilla segyptiaca, Eaup. 



Eye placed with its pupil directly over the angle of the mouth, 

 and having a diameter which measures half the length of the snout. 

 Pectorals equal in length to the mandible, and measuring 0-87 

 in. The distance between the pectoral and the tip of the snout 

 (= 2-76 in.) is to that between the pectoral and dorsal (= 3-15 

 in.) as 7 to 8, or it is comprised in the length of the latter once and 

 a seventh. In the position and development of the teeth, the species 

 resembles acutirostris and nilotica. Colour of the upper surface, 



