310 



NA TUR A L HIS TOR Y. 



sidered excessive by those who have visited the spot at a suitable season 

 of the year." 



The common eel, contrary to the common opinion, is provided with 

 small scales, but the true sea-eels or conger-eels are without them. These 

 latter forms never leave the sea. They are comparatively rare on our 

 coasts, but in Europe they are taken in large quantities for the markets. 



Queerest of all the queer fish brought up from the great depths of the 

 seas by the recent exploring expeditions are the pelican-fishes. They are 



Fig. 297. — Pelican-fish (Eitrypharynxpelecanoicles). 



all mouth and tail, the most curious creatures that can be imagined. Of 

 their habits nothing is known, but the probability is that they swim along 

 open-mouthed, near the bottom, their immense gape serving as a net, ami 

 their first discoverer thought that digestion might be partially accom- 

 plished in the large pouch between the halves of the lower jaw, which in 

 its appearance recalls that of the pelicans. But very few specimens arc 

 known, the first being found in 1882. 



The cat-fishes and horned pouts occur mostly in the fresh waters, but 

 a considerable number of them live, in the sea. In our northern waters, 



