THE SHARP-NOSED EEL. 385 



angle of the mouth extending back to beneath the middle of the eye ; 

 pectorals rounded; all the rays finely branched. Dorsal fin com- 

 mencing at about one-third of the whole length from the snout, and 

 running down the back to form, with the assistance of the anal, the 

 caudal fin ; the terminating rays rather the longest. Anal fin com- 

 mencing a little in front of the middle, and answering to the dorsal ; 

 a number of mucous pores about the head and sides ; gill-opening 

 small, placed in front of the lower half of the base of the pectoral 

 fin; scales small, scarcely perceptible; skin soft and very slimy, 

 marked with a number of capillary lines arranged in threes, giving an 

 appearance as if the skin had been finely plaited ; lateral line straight 

 throughout its course ; ventral fins wanting. 



There is a variety of Eel frequently met with, known by 

 the name of Silver Eel, with the back of a light colour, the 

 sides of a silvery lustre and subtranslucent, and the pecto- 

 rals nearly black ; in other respects it answers to the above 

 description of the common Sharp-nosed species. Eels are 

 said not to exist in the Arctic Regions. They abound, how- 

 ever, in many of the European rivers, and are caught in 

 immense numbers in Holland as well as in the rivers emp- 

 tying themselves into the Baltic, and form a considerable 

 article of trade. They frequent nearly the whole of the 

 rivers and lakes throughout Britain, and are found more or 

 less numerous in almost every part of the world. In all the 

 large towns in England they are much sought after as an 

 article of food, and by some are held in high estimation, 

 particularly when cooked by potting or stewing them ; 

 but, on account of the large proportion of oil which they 

 contain, are extremely unwholesome, and apt to create se- 

 vere indigestion, and alimentary disturbance from their use. 

 In Scotland, the Eel is seldom or never eaten, under an er- 

 roneous impression of its not being a true fish, but a kind 

 of water-serpent, and so a prejudice is excited against it. 



This fish inhabits both the river and sea, and, in the 

 month of April, deposits its spawn in the brackish waters. 



VOL. vii. b b 



