CHAPTER IX 



THE EEL 



The order Apodes. The Eel family : description of the Eel — 

 its distribution — differences from the American Eel — size 

 and weight of Eels — only one European species — Yellow Eels 

 — Frog-mouthed or Broad-nosed Eels — food and habits — 

 journeys across country — Silver Eels — differences from Yellow 

 Eels — migrations to the sea — ripe Eels — spawning — Lepto- 

 cephalids — the larva of the Eel — metamorphosis and migration 

 — Elvers — age and rate of growth — distribution of Eels 

 dependent on proximity to suitable breeding-places — biblio- 

 graphy of biology of the Eels — value as food 



THE order Apodes includes fishes which agree 

 with those Teleosteans already considered 

 in the persistence of the duct of the air-bladder, 

 the absence of spinous fin-rays, and the abdominal 

 position of the pelvic fins, when present ; however, 

 in all the living members of the group these fins 

 are absent, and they are also characterized by their 

 more or less snake-like form and small gill-openings, 

 but especially by the structure of the mouth, which 

 is bordered above by the maxillaries laterally and 

 in front by the vomer, the pra^maxillaries being 

 absent, or at any rate not present as separate 

 elements. 



Nearly all the fishes of this order are marine, 

 and the Eel family {Anguillidcc) includes a number 



