3?2 THE FKKSH-WATKU I'ISIIKS OF EUROPE. 



the larger ; anal, dorsal, and caudal arc all slightly rounded. Tiic greatest 

 height of the body is over the ventral fin, and is about equal to the length of 

 the head. The diameter of the eye is four-fifteenths of the length of the he;ul. 



In the males the blue-grey longitudinal band is absent, and the hinder part 

 of the body is covered with black spots, and crossed with nine to twelve 

 transverse brown bands. 



The anal fin is longer than in the female, but less deep, and is of the 

 same height as the dorsal fin. Toward their posterior extremities both fins 

 become pointed. Both these fins and the caudal fin are densely covered with 

 black spots, which, however, are absent from the outer parts of all three fins. 

 The unpaired fins at their free edges are margined with black, which is also seen 

 on the extremity of the ventral fin and occasionally on the pectorals. The height 

 of the body is equal to one and two-thirds its breadth ; and is about one-fourth 

 of the length of the fish. 



There are twenty teeth in the lower jaw in both sexes ; the upper edge of 

 the lower jaw is margined with black. In the pre-maxillary there are twelve 

 to fourteen large recurved teeth in front, with a row of very small teeth 

 behind. There are twenty-nine scales in a line between the head and caudal 

 fin. Over the ventral fin there are eight to nine scales in a transverse row. 

 The scales are relatively large and are marked with many concentric rings. 

 The upper side of the head and forward part of the back are broad and flat, 

 and the body reaches its greatest height over the ventral fin. The alimentary 

 canal forms two simple folds, and has more delicate walls than in Cyprinodon 

 ibericus. The male measures 2^ inches in length, while the female has a 

 length of 2 T 8 o inches. 



The habits are similar to those of Cypriuodon. It is recorded by Dr. Stein- 

 dachner from among the vegetation in the canals of Valencia, about Seville, 

 in Catalonia, and in the Albufera lake. 



FAMILY: MUR^ENID^E. 

 GENUS : Anguilla (CuviER). 



Eels have an elongated cylindrical body, which is spotted with rudimentary 

 scales embedded in the skin. There are no ventral fins in any of these fishes; and 

 they were hence placed, in an older classification, in a group named Apodes. 

 The fins of the Eels are essentially those of immature fishes. For Alexander 

 Agassiz has shown in the young condition of many fishes the existence of a fin 



