EELS. . 673 



the female organ can be distinguished from the male only 

 with the aid of a microscope. 



The second species found in Great Britain, on the coasts 

 of Europe generally, in China, New Zealand, and the West 

 Indies, is (A. latirostris) the " Grig " or " Glut," wliich prefers 

 the neighbourhood of the sea to distant inland-waters, and 

 in which the dorsal fin begins farther backwards, the distance 

 between the commencement of the dorsal and anal fins being 

 shorter than the head ; its snout seems to be always broad. 

 On the American side of the Atlantic other species, beside 

 A. anguilla are found in abundance : A. liostonicnsis, A. texana. 

 The largest Eels occur in lakes of the islands of the Indo- 

 Pacific, and they play a conspicuous part in the mythology 

 of the South-Sea Islanders and Maories ; individuals of from 

 eight to ten feet in length have been seen, and referred to several 

 species, as A. maiLritiana, fidjiensis, ohscura, aneitcnsis, etc. 



Conger. — Scaleless. Cleft of the mouth wide, extending at 

 least to below the middle of the eye. Maxillary and mandibu- 

 lary teeth arranged in series, one of which contains teeth of equal 

 size, and so closely set as to form a cutting edge. No canine 

 teeth. Vomerine band of teeth short. Pectoral and vertical 

 fins well developed, the dorsal commencing behind the root of 

 the pectoral. Gill-openings large, approximate to the abdomen. 

 The posterior nostril opposite to the upper or middle part of the 

 orbit, the anterior in a tube. Eyes well developed. 



The " Congers" are marine Eels ; the best known species 

 (C. conger) seems to be almost cosmopolitan, and is plentiful 

 all round Europe, at St. Helena, in Japan, and Tasmania. It 

 attains to a length of eight feet, and thrives and grows rapidly 

 even in confinement, which is not the case with the fresh- 

 water Eel. Three other species are known, of which C. 

 marginatus from the Indian Ocean, is the most common. 

 Leptocephalus morrisii is an abnormal larval condition of the 

 Conger. 



2x 



