380 G. B. GRASSI. 
The body was thickened, and already showed the cylindrical 
form. They measured little less than 8 cm. In short, they 
were Leptocephalus brevirostris on the way to trans- 
formation into Anguilla vulgaris. Asa matter of history 
they actually did transform themselves in my aquarium with 
the usual diminution in their dimensions, and subsequently 
proceeded to increase in bulk.' The metamorphosis took 
place, as usual, without the animal taking in any nourish- 
ment whatever. The resumption of growth was accompanied 
by a resumption of feeding. Unfortunately I had no other 
individuals of this stage. 
The stage which I now pass on to describe (fig. 3) can 
be obtained during the winter in the sea. I have never 
found them at the mouths of rivers. The length varies 
from 54 to 73 mm. Most individuals measured about 65 mm. 
The body is relatively longer than in the elver. It is also 
relatively deeper, as in Leptocephalus. We are reminded 
of Leptocephalus also by the pigment of the eye, the vitreous 
transparency of the body, the swim-bladder being indis- 
tinguishable in the living animal, and the absence of all 
larval pigmentation. The blood is slightly coloured, and the 
bile is already green. Slight pigmentation can be seen along 
the central nervous system, and at the middle part of the 
caudal fin. This commencement of the definitive or adult 
pigmentation in the regions named before it occurs in any 
other part is also seen in other Murenoids. The definitive 
teeth are very minute, and few in number. The intestine 
contains no food. After what I had observed in the other 
Murenoids, the simple observation of the barely indicated 
teeth, and of the absence of aliment in the gut, would have 
been sufficient to convince me that the stage now under notice 
must be preceded by a Leptocephalus phase. Indeed, if we 
did not admit such a preceding history, we could not under- 
stand how this little fish could have attained such a size with- 
1 The fact that I actually have obtained in an aquarium the transforma- 
tion of L. brevirostris into Anguilla vulgaris is of prime importance. 
The time occupied was one month. 
