578 



THE OCEAN WORLD. 



The Eels {Af7gui/la) have pectoral fins, under which are the gill- 

 openings on each side ; the dorsal and anal fins extending up to the 

 tail, mingling with this last, which terminates in a point at the ex- 

 tremity. The Eels {Angi/iiia) inhabit most European rivers, except 

 in the spawning season, when, according to some naturalists, they 

 betake themselves to the sea. During the greater part of their 

 existence, therefore, they have no connection with the ocean. The 



Fig. 377. — The Common Conger (Conger vulgaris). 



Congers, on the other hand, are fishes of great size, which inhabit the 

 seas of warm countries, as well as those of Northern Europe. The 

 type of this family is the Common Conger, Conger vulgaris (Fig. 377), 

 which differs from the true eels chiefly in the dorsal fins, which com- 

 mence very near to the pectorals ; and also in their upper jaw being 

 longer than their under one. They attain the thickness of a man's 

 leg, and are sometimes two yards in length. The conger-eel is fre- 

 quendy found in salt marshes, but its flesh is held in little esteem. 



2. Abdo7ninaIia. — The fishes belonging to this sub-order have 

 the ventral fins placed on the abdomen, and not attached to the 



