THE SNIG EEL. 22 < 



The Snig Eel, Anguilla mediorostris ? Yarrell, 



Is taken in the North and South, and probably in lakes, &c., over the 

 island. 



An eel of the size, form, colour, and habits attributed to this species is 

 commonly taken about Belfast. It roves and feeds by day, and is then 

 usually captured by rod and line, with an earthworm as bait. The only 

 one of these which I dissected had however processes to the first five 

 cervical vertebrae, which according to Mr. Yai'rell the sp. does not pos- 

 sess : for this reason a note of interrogation is given after the species. 



Comparing a specimen which I took to London with specimens of Mr. 

 Yarrell's, they were externally the same. 



Mr. Yarrell, p. 399, mentions that this eel is considered distinct from the 

 common sp. in Hampshire, and so the one I allude to is at L. Neagh, where 

 (the late Mr. Templdon, in his Catal. p. 10, alludes to three varieties) the 

 fishermen distinguish three species; this they call the Weed-eel ; the A. 

 acutirostris they call Eel, Skull-eel, or Bann-eel, par excellence ; the A. 

 latirostris they distinguish by the name of Gorb-eel, and Collach or 

 Hunter-eel, on account of its comparative voracity. Small specimens 

 from Youghal in Dr. Ball's collection have the external characters of 

 this species. 



Oct. ^Ist, 1836. A few days ago I obtained an eel from a person 

 who had just caught it in the Lagan with his rod. Its " snout is rather 

 long and moderately broad," gape extending to middle of eye, less than 

 ^ of the entire length before the D. (2 in. 5 lines to D., thence to end of 

 tail o in. 7 lines), one-eighth of entire length before P. (1 inch from lower 

 jaw to P., thence to end of tail 7 inches), P. small, length 4 lines, from 

 lower jaw to vent 3 in. 3 lines, thence to tail 4 in. 9 lines. 



Nov. nth, 1836. I to-day examined an eel from the Bann, which a 

 few days ago I at once recognised amongst a sackful of Bann eels as 

 the " Weed-eel," which I got several specimens of at Toome, in Sept., 

 1834, believing them at that time to be quite distinct from the true Bann 

 one {A. acutirodns). This specimen agrees in having the " snout rather 

 long and moderately broad, gape extending not quite to a vertical line 

 from the posterior part of the orbit, rather less than ^ of entire length 

 before the dorsals (it is 4^ in. to 10:|^ in.), and between i and ^ before 

 the pectorals" (or If in. to 13), Jen. j). 477, vent 6} in. from extremity of 

 lower jaw, thence to end of tail (S^ inches. The colour of this eel is just 

 similar to that of the specimen I got from Lagan on 31st ult., greenish 

 olive, with a yellow tinge on back and sides, and rich gamboge yellow 

 beneath. I thought it the A. mediorostris, until on dissection I found 

 it possessed spinous processes on the first five cervical vertebrtTp. 



A specimen from Youghal of an eel G| inches long agrees in all cha- 

 racters with this species as described by Mr. Jenyns ; its pectoral tins are 

 rounded as in Mr. Yarrell's figure of this species, though I believe he 

 says nothing on this subject : see difference between his fig. of acidirostris 

 and of mediorostris, in this particular. I find the difference shown in 

 the figures in specimens of both species. 



The Conger Eel, Conger vulgaris, Cuv., 



Is common around the coast. 



It is sought for chiefly in the months of May and June, but is doubtless 

 to be had at all times. Conger eels are generally caught on long lines ; to 

 nets, when captured in them, they are very destructive. Mr. Meenan has 



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