OSSEOUS FISHES. 



54J 



emperor gave the slave his freedom, and, in order to manifest his in- 

 dignation with Pollion, he ordered his attendants to hreak every vase 

 of value which the freedman had collected in his mansion. 



In the present day sea-eels are little esteemed in a gastronomic point 

 of view. Nevertheless they are still sought for on the coast of Italy, 

 and the fishermen avoid with great care the hites of their sharp teeth. 



The Eels (Anguilla) have pectoral fins, under which are the gill- 

 openings on each side ; the dorsal and anal fins extending up to the 

 tail, mingling with this last, which terminates in a point at the extre- 



Fig. 366. The Common Conger (Conger vulgaris). 



mity. The eels are divided into two groups : 1. The Eels (Anguilla), 

 properly so called; and, 2. The Congers. The first inhabit most 

 European rivers, except in the spawning season, when, according to 

 some naturalists, they betake themselves to the sea. During the 

 greater part of their existence, therefore, they have no connection with 

 tjie ocean. The Congers, on the other hand, are fishes of great size, 

 which inhabit the seas of warm countries, as well as those of Northern 

 Europe. The type of this family is the Common Conger, Conger 

 vulgaris (Fig. 366), which differs from the true eels chiefly in the dorsal 

 fins, which commence very near to the pectorals ; and also in their 



