3 i 4 THE BLIND-FISH. 



The HAIR-TAILED GLASS EEL is much longer in proportion then the last-mentioned 

 species, and its body is so extremely compressed that, it is hardly thicker than the 

 paper on which this account is printed. This species is also found at Messina. The 

 jaws are short and round, the eye rather small, and the tail tapers away to a hair-like 

 point. The length of this fish is rather more than a foot, and a row of minute points 

 runs along each edge of the body. 



The typical genus Leptocephalus is a rather large one, containing more species than 

 the four preceding genera together. 



The ROUND-HEADED GLASS EEL derives its specific name of Taenia, or tapeworm, 

 on account of its resemblance to that unpleasant internal parasite. Its head is, as its 

 name denotes, short and much rounded, and the eyes are globular, projecting, and 

 extremely large. The jaws are tolerably well furnished with small teeth. In shape 

 it is long and rather rounded, and the absence of fins renders its resemblance to a 

 tapeworm extremely striking. It seems to be an Asiatic species having been captured 

 in India and the neighboring islands. 



AN example of this genus, the ANGLESEY MORRIS (Leptocephalus Morrist), has been 

 taken on our own coasts. In this species the head is blunt, the eye moderate, the body 

 much compressed, and deepest at the latter third of its length. When living, its pol- 

 ished surface reflects gleams of iridescent light as it winds its graceful way through the 

 sea-weeds among which it loves to sojourn, like a ribbon of animated nacre. But 

 when dead and placed in spirits, all the delicate opalescence of its body fades, and soon 

 deteriorates into an opaque dull whiteness like wet parchment. 



spdxus. 



THE reader will remember that on several occasions it has been deemed expedient 

 to give examples of remarkable deviations from the ordinary system, and to call attention 

 o the wonderful economy of nature, which is most averse to wastefulness, and declines 

 to expend its powers on organs that if existing would be in abeyance. A recent 

 ixample of such modification has been given in the proteus, on page 192, that curious 

 reptile, or semi-reptile, which inhabits caves wherein penetrates no ray of light, and 

 which, having no need of external eyes, is altogether devoid of such useless organs. 



BLIND-FISH of America affords another instance of similar economy in structure. 

 Living, like the proteus, in a subterranean and perfectly dark grotto, it needs no eyes, and 



