CHAPTER XVI. 



THE EELS. 



THE family Murcenidce, to which the Eels belong, is the 

 thirty-first of the order PHYSOSTOMI. 



Gunther says : " The eels are spread over almost all 

 fresh-waters and seas of the temperate and tropical zones ; 

 some descend to the greatest depths of the oceans. Fossil 

 remains of this family are very numerous." 



The genus Anguilla is the only one found in our fresh- 

 waters. It is thus defined by Day : " Gill-openings of 

 moderate extent, situated near the base of the pectoral 

 fins ; upper jaw not projecting beyond the lower ; teeth 

 small and in bands ; dorsal fin commencing at some 

 distance behind the nape ; pectorals present; small scales 

 imbedded in the skin." 



THE EEL. 



Three species of eels are described by Yarrell 'as 

 indigenous to Great Britain the SHARP-NOSED (Anguilla 

 acutirostris), the BROAD- NOSED (A. latirostris), and the SNIG 

 (A. mediorostris). 



Day considers these differences arise chiefly from sex 

 or are dependent on sterility, and classes them under the 

 name Anguilla vulgaris. The Grig or Glut Eel (A. latirostris) 

 is mostly found in brackish water near the sea, seldom 

 going up the rivers any distance beyond the tides. This, 

 he states, is the male ; the females being the sharp-snouted 



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