168 VERTEBRATA. PISCES. 



ORDER IV. APODAL* MALACOPTERYGII.f 



THIS Order, including but a single family, com- 

 prises those soft-finned Fishes, whose body, greatly 

 lengthened, assumes a serpent-form, and which are 

 destitute of ventral fins. They have a thick, soft, 

 skin, which almost conceals their scales ; and their 

 bones are few. 



Anguilla,% the Eel. 



The gill-rays of the Eels are enveloped in the skin, 

 and communicate with the water by an orifice at 

 some distance back, from which circumstance these 

 fishes can remain a long time out of water with im- 

 punity. The pectorals are immediately over the 

 gill aperture ; the dorsal and anal are continued 

 round the end of the tail. We have three fresh- 

 water species, besides the Conger, (A. Conger,) 

 which is a large marine Eel. The commonest of 

 our Eels is the Sharp-nosed, (A. Acutirostris,) which 

 is well-known in every locality, being highly esteem- 

 ed as food. All the species migrate to the sea in 

 the autumn, where they spend the winter, ascending 

 the streams to spawn ; for it is now nearly ascertain- 



* A, without, and *vs , JOOMS, a foot (meaning the ventral fin), 

 f See page 119. * Anguis a snake. 



