FISHES. 



APODAL FISH. 



OF THE EEL TRIBE IN GENERAL. 



THE Apodal Fish, of which the Eel forms the first Linnean tribe, 



in their appearance and 

 manners, approach, in 

 some instances, very 

 nearly to the serpents. 

 They have a smooth 

 and slippery skin, and 

 are in general naked, 

 or covered only with 

 small, soft, and distant 

 scales. Their bodies 

 are long and slender, 

 and they are supposed 

 to live entirely on ani- 

 mal substances. 



There are about nine species, most of which are found only in the 

 aeas. One of these frequents our fresh waters, and three others occa- 

 sionally visit our shores. 



THE COMMON EEL. 



The Common Eel evidently forms a connecting link, in the chain 



of nature, between the serpents and 

 the fishea It possesses not only 

 the serpent form, but also many of 

 the habits of serpents. 



The Eel is frequently known to 

 quit its own element, and to wander, 

 in the evening or night, over mead- 

 ows, in search of snails and other 

 prey, or to other ponds for change 

 of habitation. This will account for Eels being found in waters that 

 have not been suspected to contain them. 



The usual haunts of Eels are in mud, among weeds, tinder the 

 roots or stumps of trees or in holes in the banks or the bottom of 

 They are partial to still waters, and particularly to such M 



411 



COMMON EKL. 



