420 



PISCES. 



half the breadth at this part*. It is very similar to fat in very small 

 cells, but affords very little oil when boiled, although it is very inflam- 

 mable in the open air. 



Mr. Walsh informed me that two electric eels fought and bit one 

 another, especially in the night. They did not appear to strike one 

 another by their peculiar powers. This is like bees, which do not sting 

 each other, but bite. 



[Then follows the description of the electrical organs which was 

 extracted from the above ' Notes ' for communication to the Eoyal 

 Society, May, 1775. As this description is printed in the 65th volume 

 of the ' Philosophical Transactions,' and in my edition of the ' Animal 

 Economy,' 8vo, 1837, p. 415, it is not given here. That description, 

 however, in Mr. Cliffs copies of the Hunterian Manuscripts, constitutes 

 an important proof of their authenticity.] 



The Conger Eel [Anguilla Conger, Cuv. 1 ]. 



The anterior nares [openings of the nasal sacs] are at the anterior 

 point of the head ; [the sacs] pass backwards and open just before the 

 eye : there are cartilages at the nose, which serve for the dilatation and 

 contraction [of the sacs]. The motion of the under jaw upon the upper 

 is more like that of a quadruped than of fishes in common. The three 

 semicircular canals do not communicate with the vestibulum : they do 

 not pass through bony or cartilaginous canals, but through ligamentous 

 substance. There is a small bone in the semicircular canals. 



The Eel [Anguilla latirostris, Yarrell' 2 ] . 



The stomach has two mesenteries attaching it to the back, which 

 unite into one at the lower part of the stomach ; whence this mem- 



* It may not be improper to take notice here, that there are in general two situa- 

 tions for fat in fishes ; winch are, the body in general and the liver. When in the 

 body, it is diffused through the whole, as in other animals ; but, when it is not to be 

 found in the body, it will be found in the liver. The salmon-tribe, herring-tribe, 

 jack, &c, have their fat diffused all over the body: the cod-tribe, ray, shark, &c, have 

 it only in the liver. These facts, although not known as a constant rule, yet are so 

 far observed as to be made the foundation of parts of commerce. 



1 [Parts of the skeleton of this fish are preserved in the Hunt. Osteol. Series, 

 Nos. 41 — 43. The following are Hunterian preparations of the conger in the Phy- 

 siological Series : Nos. 1035 — 1038, branchial organs ; No. 2092, air-bladder ; No. 

 2660, female organs.] 



2 [The skeleton of a small eel is No. 40, Hunt. Osteol. Series. The jaw and teeth 

 of Anguilla latirostris, Yarrell, forms No. 393, Hunt. Phjs. Series.] 



