582 REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. 
The most Striking feature is the absence of the premaxillaries, taken 
in connection with the elongate form and the little development of the 
scapular arch, which is not attached to the cranium. Other characters 
not confined to the Apodes are the following: The absence of the 
symplectic bone, the reduction of the opercular apparatus and of the 
palatopterygoid arch, the absence of ventral fins, and the reduction or 
total absence of the scales. There are no spines in the fins, the gill- 
openings are comparatively small, and there are no pseudobranchim. 
The verterbrm are in large number, as is shown in the following table: 
Numbers of vertebrce in Apodes. 
Muraenesox coniceps 40-f- 71=111 
Anguilla anguilla 46+ 70=116 
Echidna catenata t 65+ 51=116 
Gymnothorax meleagris t . . 60+ 60=120 
Gymnothorax neb ulosust.. 65+ 57=122 
Gymnothorax undulatus t . 64+ 68=132 
Ophichthus ocellatus 52+ 82=134 
Echidna zebra t 97+ 38=135 
Gymnothorax unicolort 65+ 71=136 
Muraena helena t 70+ 71=141 
Ophichthus gomesi 45+ 96=141 
Gymnothorax ocellatus 48+ 94=142 
Gymnothorax moringa t . . . 65+ 79=144 
Synaphobranchus pinnatust 31+115=146 
Leptocephalus conger 55+ 99=154 
Gordiichthys irretitus .125+100=225 
The Apodes are naturally divisible into two series or suborders, typi- 
fied respectively by the Eels and Morays. These groups have been 
called Enclielycephali and Colocephali by Cope. The American and 
European Morays belong to a single family, Murcenidoe , but the proper 
subdivision of the true Eels is very unsettled. In the present paper 
we have recognized twelve families among the American genera, but 
until their skeletons are fully studied, the position and value of some 
of these groups is problematical. If any subdivisions are made among 
the Congroid Eels, we see no alternative but to recognize the chief 
groups as distinct families. 
To those who prefer not to give such rank to groups like Ophisuridce , 
Echelidee , etc., the following arrangement might be found acceptable : 
Colocephali. 
Murcenidce. 
Enchelycephalx. 
Congridce. 
Ophisurinse. 
Echelinae. 
StilbiscinaB. 
Muraenesocinac. 
Nettastominae. 
Nemichthyinae. 
Heterocongrinae. 
Congrinae. 
Anguillidce. 
Anguillinae. 
Simenchelyinae. 
Ilyophidinae. 
Synaphobrancliinae. 
t According to Giinther. 
