Photo from Dr. J. Schmidt 

 TUi: KEMARKABLK METAMORPHOSIS OF THE COMMON EEL, FROM THK FULL-GROWN 



LARVAL EEL (Leptocephalus) To the Elver 



Thetop figure is that of a larval eel which has attained its full growth. Tt is as thin 

 as a visiting card, quite transparent, and ahout three inches long. Tt gradually decreases 

 in size and. as time goes on. gets rounder and rounder, till it finally attains the characteristic 

 shape of the eel, changing from what might he termed a pancake into a serpent form. Dur- 

 mg this period, of ahout a year in length, it takes no food whatever, yet it drifts from the 

 hreeding grounds in mid-Atlantic over i,ooo miles to the entrance of its future fresh-water 

 home (see pages 1142 and 1144). 



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