214 HISTORY OF THE FISHES OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



GENUS I. ANGUILLA, Cuv. 



The dorsal commencing considerably behind the pectorals, and uniting with the 

 anal to form the caudal. Lower jaw the longer. Mouth with a row of teeth in 

 each jaw, and a few on the anterior part of the vomer. 



Anguilla Bostoniensis, Dekay. 

 The Common Eel of Massachusetts. 



(Plate XXXIII. Fig. 1.) 



Anguilla vulgaris, Common Eel, Mitch., Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. of N. Y., i. p. 360. 



" " Fresh-water Eel, Mitch., Amer. Month. Mag., II. p. 242. 



Murozna Bostoniensis, Lesueur, Jo urn. Acad. Nat. Scien., I. p. 81. 



" " Common Eel of Massachusetts, Stokek, Report, p. 158. 



Anguilla tenuirostris, Common Eel of New York, Dekay, Report, p. 310, pi. 53, fig. 173. 

 Anguilla Bostoniensis (Lesueur), Dekay, Report, p. 313. 



" " Ayres, Bost. Journ. Nat. Hist., iv. p. 279. 



" " Storer, Mem. Amer. Acad., New Series, n. p. 485. 



" " " Synopsis, p. 233. 



Color. This species is of a greenish or olive-brown above, and yellowish or 

 yellowish-white beneath ; frequently a reddish tinge is noticed along the margin of 

 the anal fin. In the smaller specimens, the opercula, throat, and abdomen anterior 

 to the vent, are of a bluish slate color, with scarcely a tint of yellow. The dorsal 

 fin is of the same color as the back. 



Description. Body cylindrical, compressed posteriorly, terminating in a point. The 

 head is equal to about one tenth the length of the body, compressed above, taper- 

 ing to a blunt point at the snout ; the distance across the occiput is equal to about 

 half the length of the head. The lower jaw slightly projects ; both jaws are fur- 

 nished with several rows of small, incurved, card-like teeth. The lips are fleshy. 

 The vertical gape of the mouth is equal to half the length of the head. The eyes, 

 situated just above and anterior to the angle of the jaw, are equal to one eighth 

 the length of the head. The posterior nostrils, which are oval, are situated directly 

 in advance of the superior anterior angle of the eye. A small tubular cirrhus pro- 

 jects forwards from the anterior nostrils situated on each side of the snout. A line 

 of mucous pores are observed between the anterior and posterior nostrils, and another 

 series pass backwards to the posterior inferior angle of the eye. 



The lateral line commences above and in front of the pectoral fin, and pursues 

 a straight course to the very extremity of the fleshy portion of the tail. 



The dorsal fin arises on the anterior half of the body, and is continued to the 



