Jordan and Evermann. Fishes of North America, 353 



usually at moderate depths. Most of the species undergo a metamorpho- 

 sis, the young being loosely organized and transparent, band-shaped and 

 with very small head. The body grows smaller with increased age, 

 owing to the compacting of the tissues. (Hurwnidcv, part, Giinther, Cat., 

 vm, 37-44.) 



a. Vumerino troth in bands, none of them canine-like ; lips thick. 



b. Dorsal fin inserted at a point behind base of pectoral, but nearer pectoral than vent; 

 head with inconspicuous mucous cavities ; jaws with an outer scries of close-set 

 teeth, forming a cutting edge ; tail about half longer than rest of body. 



LEPTOCEPHALUS, 155. 



bb. Dorsal fin beginning over the gill opening ; bones of front of head with largo mucif- 

 erous cavities ; mouth rather small ; jaws with bands of small teeth, the outer not 

 forming a cutting edge ; tail from half to two-thirds of total length. 



CONGERMUR^NA, 156. 



aa. Vomerine teeth uniserial, some of them canine-like ; maxillary teeth biserial ; dorsal 

 beginning above root of pectoral; cleft of mouth extending beyond middle of eye; 

 tail very long and slender, about half longer than rest of body. . UROCONGEB, 157. 



155. LEPTOCEPHALUS (Gronow) Scopoli. 

 ( CONGER EELS.) 



(a) LARVAL FORMS. 



Leptocephalus, SCOPOLI, Int. Hist. Nat., 463, 1777, (morrissi). 



Oxyurus, RAFINESQUE, Caratteri, 19, 1810, (vermiformis). 



IMmirtis, RAFINESQUE, Indice d'lttiologia Siciliana, 62, 1810, (punctatus). 



H,-hnirhtlti/s, COSTA, Fauna Napoli, Pesci, 1854, (diaphanus). 



? LepiocephaUchthys, BLEEKER, Act. Soc. Sci. Ind. Veerl., 1, Manado, 69, (hypselosoma). 



? Diaphanichthys, PETERS, Monatsber. Ak. Wiss. Berl., 399, 1864, (brevicaudtts). 



(b) ADULT FORMS. 



Echelus, RAFINESQUE, Caratteri, etc., 63, 1810, (in part ; includes species of Conger, Ophitoma and 



Mynis ; restricted by Bleeker to Myrus). 

 Conger, CUVIER, Regne Animal, Ed. n, n, 350, 1829, (conger). 

 Ariosama, SWAINSON, Nat. Hist., Class'n Fishes, I, 220, 1838, (no type mentioned; diagnosis 



worthless). 

 Ophisoma, SWAINSON, Nat. Hist., Class'n Fishes, n, 334, 1839, (acuta, obtusa). Substitute for Ario- 



soma ; not Ophisomus, SWAINSON, 1. c., 227 = Mursenoides, Lacepede. 

 Congrus, RICHARDSON, Voyage Erebus & Terror, 107, 1844, (conger). 



Body formed as in Anguilla, the skin scaleless. Head depressed above, 

 anteriorly pointed. Lateral line present. Mouth wide, its cleft extend- 

 ing at least to below middle of eye. Teeth in outer series in each 

 jaw equal and close-set, forming a cutting edge ; no canines ; baud of 

 vomerine teeth short. Tongue anteriorly free. Vertical fins well devel- 

 oped, confluent around the tail; pectoral fins well developed; dorsal 

 beginning close behind pectorals. Gill openings rather large, low. 

 Eyes well developed. Posterior nostril near eye; anterior near tip of 

 snout, with a short tube. Lower jaw not projecting. Skeleton differing 

 in numerous respects from that of Anguilla. Vertebrae about 56 -f- 100. 

 In most warm seas. This genus contains the well-known and widely 

 distributed Conger eel and three or four closely related species. The 

 earliest generic name used for members of the group is Lcptoayhaluii, 

 based ou a curious, elongate, transparent, band-like creature with 

 F. N. A. 24 



