432 FISHES. APODES. 



ORDER VIII. MALACOPTERYGII APODES. 



Body elongated, with thick skin, and destitute of ventral fins. 



This order may be considered as forming a natural family, distinguished at once 

 by their anguilliform body, their thick skin, and almost imperceptible scales. They 

 are destitute of coscums, but almost all have swimming-bladders, and often of singu- 

 lar forms. 



Gen. 1 . ANGUILLA, Cuv. Murcsna, Lin. 

 Body rounded, elongated, smooth ; branchial openings lateral, 

 placed under the pectoral fins ; pectoral fins large ; dorsal and 

 anal fins united, and forming a pointed caudal fin. 



A. vulgaris, Cuv. (M. anguilla, Lin.) The Common Eel. Body 

 olive-brown, silvery beneath ; the under jaw longer than the up- 

 per. 2 to 3 feet long. Waters of Europe. B Shaw, iv. pi. 1. 

 This species varies frequently in its colours, according, it is believed, to the nature 

 of the water it inhabits. The vertebra, to the amount of about 116, are compressed 

 and small ; the ribs very short and but slightly attached ; and this structure gives the 

 body a wonderful flexibility. The eel, from being enabled to close the branchial 

 apertures, often leaves the water during the night to search for worms and insects 

 in the neighbouring meadows ; and it has been ascertained that it can live for six or 

 eight days in a humid and not too warm a situation. During the day it generally 

 lies hid in the mud ; and is able in summer droughts to support existence in places 

 where the water is almost completely evaporated. The eel is viviparous. 



Gen. 2. CONGER, Cuv. Murccna, Lin. 

 Dorsal fin commencing near the pectoral fins or over them ; up- 

 per jaw longer than the under. 



C. vulgaris, Cuv. (M. conger, Lin.) The Conger Eel. Body dusky 

 above, silvery below ; dorsal and anal fins edged with black ; late- 

 ral line dotted with white. 5 or 6 feet long. Inhabits Northern 

 Seas. B Shaw, iv. pi. 1. 

 The Conger grows to a large size, and some have been taken weighing 1 00 Ibs. 



It is extremely voracious. 



C. Myrus, Cuv. Body similar to the preceding, with some spots 

 on the snout, a band across the occiput, and two rows of points 

 on the nape of a whitish colour. Smaller than the preceding. 

 Inhabits the Mediterranean sea. Shaw, iv. 24. 



C. Balearica, Cuv. (Murcena, Laroche.) Body brilliant yellow- 

 ish green, with the margins of the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins 

 black j dorsal fin commencing above the branchial openings ; up- 

 per jaw longer than the under. 16 inches long. Inhabits Medi- 

 terranean sea An. Mus. xiii. pi. 20, fig. 3 



Gen. 3. OPHISURUS, Lacepede. Murcena, Lin. 



Body and tail cylindrical, and much elongated ; no caudal fin ; 

 head small; nostrils tubular ; anal and dorsal fins long. 



O. serpens, Cuv. Snake Eel. Body brown above, silvery below ; 

 snout slender and pointed ; twenty rays in the branchial mem- 

 brane. 5 to 6 feet long. Mediterranean sea Shaw, iv. 23. 



O. ophis, Lacep. Body silvery, long, and slimy ; both jaws equal; 



