— 153 — 



Eigenmann and Kennedy (1. c. p. 84). According to these authors 2 specimens of the 

 larvae of the American eel {Leptocephalns GrassiP) were taken in the North Atlantic 

 off the coast ot the United States ■ by the American research-steamer "Albatross". At the 

 same time the two American authors maintain, that the Ameiican eel {Anguilla chry- 

 sypd) is according to their investigations specifically distinct from the European Aiigitilla 

 vulgaris on account of its smaller number of vertebrae. C. G. Joh. Petersen ^ who 

 counted the vertebrae in some young eels from America and Denmark has also referred 

 to this question as follows: "Provisionally I look upon the American and the European eel 

 as belonging at least to different races". 



I have also investigated this matter (see Section II) and come to the same result. It 

 follows that the discovery of the two American Leptocephali can throw no light on the 

 occurrence of the larvae of the European eel. Also, the American authors give no details 

 on the mode of occurrence of their specimens, but merely mention the locality where 

 they were taken. 



The first larva of the European eel found in the Atlantic Ocean was taken by 

 myself on board the Danish research-steamer "Thor". The discovery is described by C. 



Fig. 4. The Leptocephalus taken on the "Challenger" Expedition, incorrectly referred by GÜNTHER to 



L. brevirostris. (Reproduced from a photograph of the original specimen in the British Museum by 



Mr. James Green.) a: zXnat. size, b: 5 x nat. size. 



G. JoH. Petersen (1. c. p. 4). Only one specimen was taken, at a spot west of the 

 Faeroes (6i°2l' N., 10°59' W.) and the date May 22nd, 1904. The specimen, which had 

 a length of 77 mm. (vertebrae 1 14) was taken on the surface. In the same year on 

 August 1 ith, 1904, according to Petersen, a second specimen of Leptocephalus brevi- 

 rostris was taken by Mr. E. W. L. Holt off the west coast of Ireland (40 miles N. by W. 

 of Eagle Point, depth 735 fathoms). There is no information however, as to the depth 

 at which this specimen (the length of which was 73 mm,, number af vertebrae 1 16) 

 was taken. 



Leptocephalus brevirostris has thus not been taken in the Atlantic Ocean 

 before the year 1905, and only two specimens in all were taken there, namely: 



May 22nd, 1904 (west of the Faeroes by the author) 



August nth, 1904 (west of Ireland by E. W. L. Holt). 



I The one was taken in 38°47'2o" N. Lat. and 72°37'oo" W.Long, on Nov. 5th, 1883 (its length was 

 4.7 mm.); the other in 38°25' N., 72°4o' W. (length 49 mm.) 



- C. C. Joh. Petersen, Larval eels (Leplocepliahts brevirostris) of the Atlantic coasts of Europe (Meddel. 

 Kommissionen for Havundersegelser, ser. Fiskeri, Bind I, Nr. 5, 1905). This paper came into my hands at the 

 end of July 1905. 



