156 BRITISH FRESHWATER FISHES 



the obtusely conical teeth forming broad bands, the 

 small eyes, their diameter measuring two-fifths the 

 length of the snout, or one-half the interocular width, 

 and the short and blunt pectoral fins. 



Yellow Eels, then, are Eels which are feeding 

 and growing, and may vary in length from a few 

 inches to more than 5 feet ; they are found both in 

 fresh and salt water, in the former case inhabiting 

 not only rivers and lakes, but small brooks and 

 isolated ponds, in the latter dwelling in harbours 

 or near the mouths of rivers, or lurking among rocks 

 and weeds along the shore. In winter they usually 

 withdraw into deeper water and lie torpid, buried in 

 the mud, but are susceptible to very severe weather ; 

 thus Thompson records that in 1841 a large number 

 were killed in the month of February by protracted 

 hard frosts with strong easterly winds, and floated 

 down the Lagan to Belfast. 



At other seasons they feed principally at night, 

 in the daytime lying still in holes or beneath stones, 

 or buried in the sand with the head just projecting ; 

 during thunder they become restless and active. 

 They feed chiefly on worms, small fish, cray-fishes, 

 etc., but the larger ones are practically omnivorous, 

 and include frogs, water-fowl, water-voles, etc., in 

 their dietary. Not many years ago a large Eel 

 was captured in a pond near Sherborne by a 

 labourer, who noticed a Swan in difficulties and 

 went to see what was the matter ; the bird had put 

 its head under water and this had been seized by the 

 Eel, who would not let go until it was in the grasp 

 of the man, who landed it. 



It has been asserted that Eels leave the water 

 to feed on slugs, pea-pods, etc., but while this is 



