44 CONTRIBUTIONS TO NORTH AMERICAN ICHTHYOLOGY 1. 



* 91st species, Devil- Jack Diamond-fish, LITHOLEPIS ADAMANTINtTS, 

 Litholepe adamautin. (p. 7(5.) 



LiTHOLEPIS SPATULA (LaC.) JOF. 



Description at second hand and erroneous in several respects, but 

 unquestionably referring to the Alligator-Gar. 



XXX. Genus, EEL, ANGUILLA, Anguille. (p. 77.) 

 Subgenus CONGER, (p. 77.) 



t 92d species, Broad-Tail Eel, ANGUILLA LATICAUDA, Anguille large 

 queue, (p. 77.) 



ANGUILLA VULGARIS Fleming. 



Anguilla hostoniensis (Le Sueur) Dekay and of authors. 

 ' Anguilla rostrata (Le Sueur) Dekay(tbe earliest American name). 



If, as is claimed by Dareste, there is but one species of Anguilla in 

 the northern hemisphere, the four species of Eafioesque belong to it. 

 Murcena rostrata (Lq S.), applied to the eel of the inland lakes of New 

 York, is the oldest American name. 



93d species, Black Eel, ANGUILLA ATERRIMA, Anguilla noire, (p. 76.) 



94th species, Yellow-Belly Eel, ANGUILLA XANTHOMBLAS, AnguHla 

 santhomele. (p. 78.) 



* Snout obtuse, as long as the head; head one-fourth of total length; body fusiform 

 blackish ; dorsal and anal fins equal and with many rays ; tail bilobed, lateral line 

 obsolete. 



Liiholepis adamantinns Raf. in American Monthly Magazine 1818, vol. 3, p. 447, and 

 in Journal de Physique et Hist. Nat. 70, JSf. G. d^Animaux G. 20. 



This may be reckoned the wonder of the Ohio. It is oaly found as far up as the 

 falls, and probably lives also in the Mississippi. I have seen it, but only at a distance, 

 and have been shown some of its singular scales. Wonderful stories are related con- 

 cerning this fish, but I have principally relied upon the description and figure given 

 me by Mr. Audubon. Its length is from 4 to 10 feet. Oue was caught which weighed 

 400 pounds. It lies sometimes asleep or motionless on the surface of the water, and 

 may be mistaken for a log or a snag. It is impossible to take it in any other way 

 than with the seine or a very strong hook, the prongs of the gig cannot pierce the 

 scales which are as hard as flint, and even proof against lead balls ! Its flesh is not 

 good to eat. It is a voracious fish. Its vulgar names are Diamond Fish (owing to its 

 scales being cut like diamonds). Devil Fish, Jack Fish, Garjack, &c. The snout is large, 

 convex above, very obtuse ; the eyes small and black ; nostrils small, round before 

 the eyes; mouth beneath the eyes, transversal with large angular teeth. Pectoral and 

 abdominal fins trapezoidal. Dorsal and anal fins equal, longitudinal, with many rays. 

 Tail obtusely and regularly bilobed. The whole body covered with large stone scales, 

 lying in oblique rows ; they are conical, pentagonal and pentaedral, with equal sides 

 from half an inch to one inch in diameter, brown at first but becoming of the color of 

 turtle shell when dry. They strike fire with steel! and are ball proof! 



t One individual of this species poisoned once slightly a whole family, causing 

 violent colicks, which was ascribed to its having been taken in the vitriolic slate rocks 

 of Silver Creek, near the falls. — {Raf.) 



