ANGUILLIDA. 65 
‘outline 3-lobed; this appearance is due to the fact that the dentary bones lie 
close together, parallel, and are united throughout their length, instead of 
forming an arch as in all other Cyprinidz ; lower lip represented by a broad, 
fleshy lobe on either side of the mandible. Color olivaceous, smoky or dark 
above; a blackish bar behind opercle, and a dusky shade at base of caudal 
in young. Finsall plain. Length 6 inches. 
Rare in Ohio. Six specimens were taken by the writer in 
Stillwater creek near Dayton, Aug. 15, 1899. The range of the 
species is to the eastward. West of the Alleghenies it has here- 
tofore been known only from the Kanawha river, West Virginia. 
Order: APODES. 
Sub-Order: ENCHELYCEPHALI. 
Family: ANGUILLIDA. 
Gen us: ANGUILLA. 
Anguilla chrysypa Rafinesque. AMERICAN EEL; 
FRESHWATER EEL. 
Body elongate, compressed behind; appearing scaleless, but covered 
with fine, imbedded scales. Head long, conical, moderately pointed. 
Dorsal and anal fins confluent with caudal. Color brown, often tinged with 
yellowish; paler below, the color quite variable. Length 4 or 5 feet. 
The Eel appears to be nowhere very common in Ohio, but is 
widely distributed throughout the state, and probably occurs in 
every lake, reservoir and large stream. Rafinesque mentions its 
occurrence in the Ohio ‘‘ as far as Pittsburg ;’’ Kirtland records 
it for the Ohio river drainage; Lake Erie and Ohio river, Hen- 
shall, 1889 ; Lorain County, ‘‘ occasionally taken in the pounds,” 
McCormick, 1892; Maumee river at Defiance, ‘‘ said to inhabit 
all waters of the Maumee basin,’’ Kirsch, 1893 ; Franklin County, 
observed in Big Walnut creek, reported by fishermen as “ not 
rare,’’ Williamson and Osburn, 1897 ; Pippin lake and Chippewa 
lake, R. C. Osburn, 1900. I have seen specimens taken in Lick- 
ing reservoir, Licking river and North Fork of Licking river. 
According to Kirtland the Eel did not formerly inhabit the Lake 
Erie drainage, but if not, it has found its way there through the 
‘canals. 
