THE LARVA OF THE EEL. his 7, 
view to be the true one by observing the actual metamorphosis 
of L. Morrisii into the Conger. 
M. Delage’s isolated observation has since been completely 
confirmed by Professor Grassi and Dr. Calandruccio; these 
two Naturalists, who have pursued their researches in the 
neighbourhood of Catania in Sicily, having followed the me- 
tamorphosis through all its stages in more than 150 cases. 
The most remarkable feature in the process is that the fish, 
instead of growing, diminishes considerably in size, larve of 
5 inches in length changing into young Congers of 3 inches 
only—thus showing the true explanation of the fact relied on 
by Dr. Ginther in support of his theory. The fish also loses 
its transparency owing to the development of colour pigments 
in the skin, and from its first flat ribbon-like form becomes 
cylindrical. 
The species which these naturalists have proved to be the 
larva of the Common Eel is one which has been hitherto 
known as Leptocephalus brevivostris. They have not yet been 
able to follow through the entire metamorphosis of one in- 
dividual, but by observations and comparisons on different 
individuals, at different stages, they have traced a gradual 
transition from the structure and characters of the salt water 
L. brevirostris, to those of the Common Fresh-water Eel. 
L. brevivostris is a small species scarcely exceeding 3 inches 
in length and less than half-an-inch in height, an individual of 
this size developing into a young Eel 2 inches long. 
It is a curious fact that, although the Eel is so common and 
widely distributed a fish, the Leptocephalus which has thus 
been proved to be its immature form has not up to the present 
been found elsewhere than in the Straits of Messina; most 
probably the species has escaped observation in consequence 
of its habit of hiding under stones and weeds at the bottom 
of the sea. Now that attention has been turned to it we may 
expect to hear of some of our sea-side naturalists discovering 
it on British shores. 
