159 



directed forwards reached the upper part of the stomach, opening 

 into it by a very minute orifice. 



" The differences, internal as well as external, between the salt- 

 water Conger and the sharp-nosed fresh-water Eel will be made more 

 apparent by a short description of the appearances taken from a 

 small specimen of each of equal size and length. 



" The head of the Conger is larger; the mouth wider and deeper; 

 the lips fleshy ; the upper jaw the longest ; the teeth occupying a 

 narrow linear space on both maxillary bones, forming three rows, 

 of which those in the middle line are much the largest ; numerous 

 smaller teeth, more uniform in size, occupy the line of the vo- 

 mer, but do not extend far backwards. The eye is as large again 

 as in the Anguilla ; the pectoral fins arise in this small specimen 3 

 inches and 3 lines from the point of the nose, long, narrow and 

 white ; the dorsal fin arises 4 inches 10 lines from the nose, and but 

 9 lines behind the end of the pectoral fin rays. The head of the 

 Anguilla h n^iYTow •, the nose pointed; the mouth small, lips thin, 

 lower jaw the longest ; the teeth occupying a broader surface in 

 both jaws, and extending backwards over a considerable portion of 

 the vomer ; the eye much smaller, and placed nearer the nose than 

 in the Conger, and over the angle of the gape in both ; the pectoral 

 fin, round in shape and dark in colour, arises 'i inches 4 lines from 

 the nose; the dorsal fin commences 6 inches from the end of the 

 nose and 2 inches 8 lines behind the end of the pectoral fin rays. 



" The whole of the inferior surface in both specimens being re- 

 moved to expose all the viscera, the heart in the Conger is seen to 

 occupy a lower situation than in the other Eel, the aorta issuing 

 from the ventricle in both examples on a line vvith the origin of the 

 pectoral fins. The stomach of the Conger is as long as the abdomi- 

 nal cavity, of nearly equal breadth throughout, and finishes by a 

 broad rounded end; the caliiire of the intestine is greater; and the 

 parietes of both stomach and intestines very thin. The stomach of 

 the fresh-water Eel is widest at the cardiac portion, and diminishes 

 gradually, ending 1 inch 3 lines short of the anus in a narrow point, 

 which is attached to the peritoneal covering of the swimming-blad- 

 der ; the intestinal canal is narrow ; and the parietes of that and the 

 stomach thick and muscular. 



" The broad-nosed fresh-water Eel is equally distinct from the 

 Conger, having more numerous teeth, which occupy a much broader 

 surface on both maxillary bones, and the dorsal fin commencing still 

 lower down the back than in the sharp-nosed Eel." 



A preparation was exhibited of the organs of generation of a 

 female Kaiigaroo; and IMr. Owen explained many of their peculia- 

 rities. He referred particularly to the supposed existence of peri- 

 toneal canals, and pointed out on the preparation the appearances 

 which seemed to him to have deceived the only observers by whom 

 the presumed canals had l)itherto been noticed. 



In illustration of the subject he read the following Notes : 



'* The interest which attaches to everything relating to the gene- 



