LAMPREYS AND FISHES OF INDIANA. 243 



Order 9. APODES. 



THE EELS. 



Body extremely elongated and serpent-like. Premaxillary bones not 

 distinct, sometimes wanting. Arch bearing the pectoral fins not con- 

 nected with the skull. No precoracoid arch. Ventral fins entirely 

 wanting. Gill-openings narrow, widely separated. 



An order containing a number of families, only one of which is repre- 

 sented in our fresh waters. 



Family ANGUILLID.E. 

 THE TRUE EELS. 



Body somewhat compressed, much elongated. Head long. Mouth 

 large. Pectoral fins preseat, but no ventrals. Dorsal and anal fins 

 usually confluent around the end of the tail. Body naked or furnished 

 with minute imbedded scales. 



This family contains but a single genus. 



Genus ANGUILLA Thunberg. 



Body elongated and compressed ; covered with minute, narrow scales, 

 which are placed obliquely, and some of them at right angles with the 

 others. Head long and pointed. Dorsal and anal fins confluent around 

 the end of the tail. Lateral line present. 



Anguilla ANGUILLA (Linn.). 



The Ed. 



Anguilla rostrata, Jordan and Gilbert, 1882, S, 361 ; Anguilla anguilla, 

 Jordan, 1884, 12, 630, pi. 239. 



Body long and snake-like. Pectoral fins present, but no ventrals. 

 Dorsal fin long, occupying two-thirds of the length of the back, and pass- 

 ing around the tip of the tail into the anal fin. The latter running for- 

 ward more than one-half the length of the fish. Head long and pointed ; 

 lower jaw projecting. Head in the length about eight times. Color 

 above dark, sometimes tinged with yellow ; paler below. 



Found all along the Atlantic Coafjt from Maine to Brazil. Ascends 

 all the rivers to their sources, and enters the Great Lakes. Not many 

 records are made of the eel's having been taken in Indiana. 1 have 

 seen it on the fish tables at market in Madison, on the Ohio River. It 

 is taken occasionally at Brookville (5, No. 2, 6) ; and Dr. Evermann 

 has taken specimens in the streams of Carroll County (;2o, '88, 49). 



