220 CLASSIFICATION OF FISHES. 



{fig. 40.). From the peculiar structure of their gills, 



the eel is capable of living out of the water a consider- 

 able time — some say many days ; and when the waters of 

 one of their haunts are dried up, they are well known to 

 have the power of making their way by land, during the 

 night, to other localities where water exists. They feed on 

 almost any thing — subsisting both upon living and dead 

 animals, and also on aquatic plants. The genus Alabes 

 is particularly remarkable from having a small concave 

 disk between their pectoral fins ; so that the connection 

 between the eels and the suckers (Cyclopteridce) is ren- 

 dered complete. 



(194.) The circle of the Murcenidce contains by far 

 the greater number of the apodal fishes ; and presents 

 us, under the general form of the eel, with a great di- 

 versity of modifications. In the most perfect or typical 

 division, the sub-family Anguillince, or true eels, the pec- 

 toral fins are always present, as in the conger (figAl.): 



the head is depressed, the muzzle rather obtuse, and the 

 teeth small : the branchial spiracle is in the form of a 

 slit (a), placed just before the base of the pectoral fin, 

 but rather below it ; and the nostrils are always tubular ; 

 the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins are united into one : 

 but in the new genus Ariosoma Sw. the nostrils are 

 not tubular, and the branchial aperture is in front of the 



