:JSO THE FHESH-WATER FISHES OF EUROPE. 



The head is flattened, broad, and rounded behind ; the eye large ; the lips 

 are fleshy and broad ; the angle of the mouth is behind the back of the eye ; 

 and the tail is much longer than the body. 



Angnilla eurystoma (HECKKL AND KNER). 



There is an Eel found in Dalmatia, growing to a length of twenty-two 

 inches, which is imperfectly known, but is remarkable for the great length of 

 the head; for while in the Common Eel the body is usually from eight to nine 

 times as long as the head, in this Dalmatian variety the body is only a little 

 over six times as long as the head. The head is nine and a half times as long 

 as high, and the cleft of the mouth is equal to the height or greatest breadth 



ig. 173. AXGUILLA EURYSTOMA (HEt'KEL AND KNEll). 



of the head. The head is ten times as long as the diameter of the eye ; and 

 the eye is only twice its diameter from the snout. The snout is rather broad, 

 and is nearly one-sixth of the length of the head. 



The lower jaw is rather more projecting than in the Common Eel. The 

 teeth are stronger, and the bands on the vomer are longer and broader. The 

 gill-opening is larger, and it stretches deeper under the pectoral fin on the 

 throat. The pectoral fins are short, but the longest of the twenty-one rays 

 scarcely exceeds the length of the mouth. The dorsal fin commences one-third 

 of the length of the fish behind the snout, and is of nearly uniform height. 

 The vent is in advance of the middle of the length. The anal fin is similar to 

 the dorsal. The tail is strongly compressed, and gradually decreases in height. 

 The lips, dentition, barbel-pores, nares, skin over the eyes, lateral and cephalic 

 canals, and ccjlour, are similar to those of Anguilla vulgaris. The scales also 

 are similar, only they are larger. 



