312 NEW-YORK FAUNA. 



THE BEAKED EEL. 



Anguilla rostrata. 

 Mnr(Bna roslrata. Lesdece, Jour. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 1, p. 81. 



Characteristics. Greyish or bluish above ; beneath white. Snout elongated. Body tumid in 

 the centre. Length one to two feet. 



Description. " Snout elongated, pointed and straight. Eyes large, and situated very near 

 " the angle of the mouth. Body tumid in the centre, and narrowed to a point at both extre- 

 " mities. 



Color. " Upper parts varied with grey and olive, sometimes of a slate blue ; lower parts 

 " white. Dorsal and anal tins reddish, which color deepens as it approaches the tail. Pec- 

 " toral fins small, acute, bluish. 



"Length, 18-0- 24-0. 



" Inhabits the lakes Cayuga and Geneva in the State of New- York, and is esteemed for 

 " the table." 



I transcribe the above short notice of a species which appears to be distinct, in order to 

 call the attention of naturalists to it. I have not had an opportunity to examine it. 



THE SEA EEL. 



Anguilla oceanica. 

 Anguilla oceanica, The Sea Eel. MiTCHiLL, Journ. Acad. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 1, p. 407. 



Characteristics. Brownish above. Tail pointed. Jaws equal. A dark bluish border on the 

 vertical fins. Length four feet. 



Desci'iption. Jaws even ; lips remarkably thick and fleshy. Nostrils tubular. Eyes covered 

 with the common skin. Branchial rays nine. Tongue smooth, fleshy at the sides and tip, 

 and furnished with a distinct frenum. Lateral line distinct, straight, disappearing before it 

 reaches the tail ; it is elevated enough to be felt by the finger. Teeth separate and acute ; 

 a single row in the upper jaw, which " enlarges to a toothed patch, reaching back along the 

 palate more than half an inch." In the lower jaw, traces of two rows of short and small 

 teeth within the outer serrated row. In the throat, two roundish patches of short file-like 

 teeth above ; and an oblong one on each posterior branchial arch below. Vent twenty and a 

 half inches from the head. The dorsal originates at a point three inches behind the pectoral 

 fins. Tail taper, and elongated. Pectorals small, rounded. 



Color. Brown on the back ; pale on the sides ; beneath smutty white. Pectoral fins tipped 

 with bluish white or pale blue ; the vertical fins with a margin of a dark or somewhat bluish 

 color. 



Length, 50-0. Depth, 5" nearly. Weight nine pounds. 



