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 color 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 popu- 

 larly 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, 

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

 farther setting back of the dorsal fin, the browner color, 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 impc isible. 



Of the general habits of the Eel, the Hon. Mr. Grantley F. Berkeley has giv*en 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 luxuriat- 

 ing, 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 

 snigpots take best. 



