THE SHARP-NOSED EEL. 307 



The rapidity with which it achieves this feat is really remarkable. As the waves of 

 the ebbing tide recede, the fish pushes its projecting under-jaw well into the sand, 

 scoops backward and forward like a pig grubbing in soft soil, gives a wriggle of the 

 glistening body and a twirl of the slender tail, and vanishes as if by magic. Caring not 

 for the absent waters, and finding a sufficiency of moisture in the wet sand, the fish 

 remains uninjured in its retreat, where it lies safe from the many aquatic foes who chase 

 it in the waters, and from whom the shore-sand affords the only refuge. 



The Sand Launce is extremely valuable for bait, especially for such fastidious fish as 

 the turbot, and is abundantly taken by the fishermen, who persecute the glittering little 

 creatures, and by means of a many-toothed rake drag them from their sandy refuge. In 

 some places the Sand Launce is taken in small-meshed nets that are dragged through the 

 sand just at the water's edge, and in many localities the children of the fishermen are 

 sent regularly to the shore for the purpose of hooking the Sand Launce out of their 

 retreats by means of certain instruments of iron, curved sicklewise. 



The colour of the Sand Launce is glittering silvery white, and its length, when adult, 

 is six or seven inches. On account of its active movements it is in some places popularly 

 known by the name of the WRIGGLE. 



ANOTHER species of this genus, the SAND EEL or HORNELS (Ammodytes Tobianus), is 

 common on the English shores, and is sometimes mistaken for the preceding species, fron: 

 which, however, it may be distinguished by its greater size, its larger head, the farther 

 setting back of the dorsal fin, the browner colour, and more opaque body. When full 

 grown, the Sand Eel will reach the length of a foot or thirteen inches. 



THE two Eels represented in the engraving are examples of some very common and 

 useful British fish. 



The SHARP-NOSED EEL derives its name from the shape of its head, and by that 

 structure may be distinguished from the second species. In their habits the Eels are so 

 similar that the present species will be taken as an example of the whole genus. 



Eels are found in almost all warm and temperate countries, and grow to a very large 

 size in tropical regions. They are, however, impatient of cold, and in the extreme 

 northern or southern parts of the world are not to be found. In many of the Pacific 

 islands these fish are held in great estimation, being preserved in ponds and fed by hand, 

 and in New Zealand they afford one of the staple articles of consumption. In some parts 

 of the world, however, and even in many portions of Great Britain, a strong prejudice 

 exists against Eels, probably on account of their resemblance to snakes, and even a 

 hungry man will not eat one of these wholesome and nutritious fish. 



The Eel is one of the most mysterious of our river fishes, and although much is 

 now known that formerly was involved in obscurity, there is still much to learn 

 respecting its habits, and more especially its mode of reproduction. It is probable that 

 difference of locality may influence the Eel and cause difference of habit, but it is certain 

 that if a number of practical observers in different parts of England set themselves to 

 watch the Eel and its customs, their accounts would vary in the most perplexing manner, 

 and to build a theory upon so unsafe a basis is quite impossible. 



Of the general habits of the Eel, the Hon. Mr. Grantley F. Berkeley has given 

 the following short and interesting account : 



" During hot, still, sunny weather, day and night, in the month of June, the 

 Eels are chiefly on the top of the water. Wherever masses of weeds lie, and what is 

 called the cow-weed grows the longest, there Eels do congregate, to bask in the sun by 

 day, to enjoy by night the warmth left in the weeds by the sun, and there, while thus 

 luxuriating, to snap at and catch the myriads of gnats, moths, flies, and other insects that 

 seek the weeds for food or rest, and by damping their wings become an easy prey to their 

 ambushed assailants. In waiting for the otter, or watching the river, I have often sat in 

 my boat embayed in weeds, and seen and heard the Eels thus occupied , and near and 

 within these weeds, in the particular weather alluded to, the wire-traps, nets, and snig- 

 pots take best. 



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