FAMILY ANGUILLID — ANGUILLA. 313 
The characters noted above announce a new generic group in this family. Some years 
since, I arrayed this as the representative of a new genus Isognatha, in a catalogue of New- 
York fishes ; but it is evidently improper to form such generic subdivisions without examining 
the specimens upon which they are founded, and such an opportunity has never presented 
itself. I have seen it in detached portions for sale in the market, but have never examined a 
perfect individual. It may possibly be included under Conger, with a slight alteration of the 
characters of that genus. Such a change is already being attempted by some of the English 
ichthyologists. In Cuvier, the lower jaw is said to be shortest in all the known species. 
Parnell, in his generic characters of Conger, says “lower jaw not projecting beyond the 
upper.” 
THE BULL-HEAD EEL. 
ANGUILLA MACROCEPHALA. 
Murena macrocephala, Bull-head Eel. Lesveur, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 1, p. 82. 
Characteristics. Head very large and elevated. Olive yellow above, with a golden band 
from the angle of the mouth, extending beyond the pectoral fin. 
Description. Snout short; lower jaw reflected. Head very large and elevated. Eyes 
large and prominent. Pectoral and anal fins reddish. Dorsal and anal fins terminating in a 
point. 
Color. Above olivaceous yellow; the lower parts pure white. 
Inhabits Saratoga lake. Mr. Lesueur states that it is a good table fish, and that he has 
seen, in the market of Philadelphia, an eel so nearly resembling the above, that he would be 
unwilling to consider it as distinct. 
(EXTRA-LIMITAL.) 
A. bostomensis. (Lesueur, |. c. Vol. 1, p. 81.) Greyish brown above; greyish beneath. Vent 
yellow ochre. Length twenty-four inches. Northern Coast. 
A. argentea. (Ip. Ib. p. 82.) Body much compressed. Silvery grey above, separated from the silvery 
white abdomen by a distinct lateral line. Length two feet. Northern Coast. 
Fauna — Parr 4, i 40 
