146 LAKES AND RIVERS. 



large size as is frequent with the former-named eel. 

 It is shorter and thicker in body proportionately. 



The Snig Eel (A. mediorostris) is a small species 

 of a yellow colour. The Hampshire Snig has the 

 peculiarity of moving about and feeding in the day- 

 time, which its congeners are said not to do. These little 

 eels are superior for the table, but they are not often 

 more than half a pound in weight. The form of the 

 nose is less broad in proportion than the Broad-nosed 

 Eel, and not so pointed as the common Eel. 



Eels are sometimes quite golden in colour, and 

 Mr. Buckland says he has even seen specimens nearly 

 white, which would be, of course, albinos. This writer 

 also states that quantities of eels inhabiting our rivers 

 and canals are not utilized, and, especially in Scotland, 

 where they are wasted to an enormous extent. The 

 eel-fisheries being so productive in Ireland, it seems 

 a mistaken policy not to make them so also in Scot- 

 land. But the Scotch have a great prejudice against 

 eels as food, owing to their snake-like appearance, 

 and the traditional feeling amongst them that they 

 were forbidden by the Mosaic law. 



The Snake Pipe-fish (Sygnathus ophidian) is a long 

 and very small fish, not above half an inch in diameter 

 at the thickest part, while the tail is very slender 

 indeed. The male fish has small cells on the 

 abdomen, in which the female deposits the eggs, and 

 which are thus carried about by him for some time. 

 Mr. Yarrell says they are about the size of a mustard- 

 seed. They are often among the fry caught in rivers 

 which goes popularly under the name of whitebait. 



The cartilaginous fishes, among which first occur 



