PISCES—EEL. 745 
THE CONGER EEL. 
Tue conger eel grows to an immense size, and its fierceness is equal to 
its magnitude; they have been taken ten feet and a half long, and eighteen 
inches in circumference in the thickest part. They differ from the common 
eel not only in their size, but in being of a darker color, and in the form of 
the lower jaw, which is shorter than the upper. They are extremely vora- 
cious, and prey upon other fish, particularly upon crabs, when they have cast 
their shell. The fishermen are very fearful of the large congers, lest they 
should endanger their legs by clinging round them; they therefore kill them 
as soon as possible, by striking them on the navel. In April, 1808, one was 
taken at Yarmouth, England, which knocked down its captor before it could 
be secured. On the coast of Cornwall, these fish constitute a considerable 
article of commerce, where they are salted and dried, and afterwards ground 
to powder, which is purchased by the Spaniards, for the purpose of thicken- 
ing their soups. 
THE ELECTRICAL EEL? 
Is common in South America. It is from three to five feet in length, and 
ten or twelve inches in circumference in the broadest part of the body; and 
has the capability of swimming backward as well as forward. Their color 
1s an olive-green, and the head yellow, mingled with red. The head is flat, 
and the mouth wide and toothless. From the point of its tail to within six 
inches of its head, extends a fin about two inches deep, and which is an inch 
thick at its junction with the body. As there are several annular divisions, 
or rather ruge of the skin, across the body, it would seem that the fish 
_ 
1 Conger vulgaris, Cuv. The genus Conger has the dorsal fin cominencing near the 
pectoral fins, or over them; upper Jaw longer than the under. 
2 Gymnotus electricus, Lux. The characteristics of this genus are, bronchial openings 
in part closed by a membrane opening before the pectoral fins; anus placed much forward, 
the anal fin running along the greater part of the body; no dorsal fin; skin without per 
ceptible scales. 
94 63 
