EEL TRIBE. 



447 



position of the front of the dorsal fin, has been generally regarded as a distinct 

 species, although this is not admitted by Day. About a yard is a good size for an 

 eel, although much longer specimens are on record. Few subjects have given rise 

 to more discussion than the mode of propagation of eels, and as this must be 

 noticed in some detail, we take the following extracts from a paper published a 

 few years ago by the last-named observer. After mentioning the difficulties that 



eels in the mud (J nat. size). 



took place in the identification of female eels, the author states that when this 

 point was cleared up, naturalists became rather puzzled where to look for the 

 male element, so the idea took root that these fishes might be hermaphrodites. 

 It was observed that in addition to the frill-shaped band forming the undoubted 

 ovaries, there was a second fatty band running along one side of the intestines, 

 in which milt was erroneously stated to have been discovered. In 1873, however, 

 an organ was discovered in an eel of 16 inches in length, which was correctly 

 identified with the male element, since which date numerous males, which are 



