CHAPTER IX 

 THE EEL 



The order Apodes. The Eel family : description of the Eel 

 its distribution differences from the American Eel size 

 and weight of Eels only one European species Yellow Eels 

 Frog-mouthed or Broad-nosed Eels food and habits 

 journeys across country Silver Eels differences from Yellow 

 Eels migrations to the sea ripe Eels spawning Lepto- 

 cephalids the larva of the Eel metamorphosis and migration 

 Elvers age and rate of growth distribution of Eels 

 dependent on proximity to suitable breeding-places biblio- 

 graphy of biology of the Eels value as food 



THE order Apodes includes fishes which agree 

 with those Teleosteans already considered 

 in the persistence of the duct of the air-bladder, 

 the absence of spinous fin-rays, and the abdominal 

 position of the pelvic fins, when present ; however, 

 in all the living members of the group these fins 

 are absent, and they are also characterized by their 

 more or less snake-like form and small gill-openings, 

 but especially by the structure of the mouth, which 

 is bordered above by the maxillaries laterally and 

 in front by the vomer, the praemaxillanes being 

 absent, or at any rate not present as separate 

 elements. 



Nearly all the fishes of this order are marine, 

 and the Eel family (Anguillidce] includes a number 



