THE EEL FAMILY. 377 



There are at least three distinct species of Eels in the 

 fresh waters of Great Britain 



The Sharp-nosed Eel, 

 The Broad-nosed Eel, and 

 The Sniff , or Medium-nosed Eel, 



the first two of which are very common and pretty equally 

 distributed throughout the three kingdoms, whilst the last, 

 which is also yellower in colour than the others, appears 

 to be peculiar to a few rivers, having been more particu- 

 larly noticed in the Hampshire and Worcestershire Avons. 

 The Snig is also in the habit of roving and feeding during 

 the day, both the other species roaming and feeding prin- 

 cipally by night. Further marks of distinction are to be 

 found in the comparative sharpness or bluntness of the 

 noses in the three fish permanent peculiarities from which 

 they derive their specific names, the Snig being called 

 mediorostris from its nose being intermediate in size be- 

 tween the Broad-nosed and Sharp-nosed Eels, as shown in 

 the illustrative engravings. Should any doubt, however, 

 still exist as to the identity of this species, an examina- 

 tion of the first five vertebrae will at once settle the point. 

 It will be seen, by a reference to the woodcuts, that in the 

 centre figure the vertebrae are smooth and round, and en- 

 tirely destitute of the bony projections exhibited in the 

 other two. 



The following figures represent the relative size of the 

 cranium in three individuals of exactly the same length ; and 

 the immense difference between the head of the Broad- and 



