50 



A CORNISH FAUNA. 



MTJR2ENID2E. — (the Eel Tribe.) 



Sharp-nosed Eel (Anguilla acutirostris). The common eel of the 

 county. It is not unfrequently a permanent resident in salt 

 water, hut not, so far as I have observed, at any great dis- 

 tance from the shore. 



Broad-nosed Eel (Anguilla latirostris). Couch (Fauna) speaks of 

 this as "less common than the sharp-nosed eel" (of course 

 in Cornwall). The only specimens I have seen of it have 

 been from the fresh water pond at Tresco in the Scilly 

 Islands. The largest of these weighed 6lbs. 8ozs. when I 

 weighed it, but it wasted 6 ozs. on its way to London, where 

 a cast of it was taken by Mr. Buckland. 



The Snig Eel (Anguilla mediorostris). Is mentioned by Mr. Couch 

 as having occurred in Cornwall, but I cannot see in what 

 way the Snig differs from what a small sharp-nosed Eel 

 would be.* 



Conger {Conger vulgaris). Common everywhere. Varies in its 

 colour with the ground it inhabits. It differs from the fresh 

 water eels in having its upper jaw longer than its lower. 

 There are two varieties, but whether more than accidental, 

 I cannot say. One thick at the " shoulder," and of which 

 a specimen of five feet long would weigh close on 60lbs. ; 

 the other thin at the shoulder, of which a specimen of 5 feet 

 long would not exceed 30lbs. 



Morris (Leptocephalus Morrisii). Mr. Couch records this fish in 

 Fauna with the note of " not uncommon," but he does not, 

 in express terms, in "British Fishes," say it has been taken off 

 Cornwall ; and I have never seen nor heard of a specimen, 

 1 think it must be accepted as rare. Probably, as happened 

 some years since of the rare Arch-fronted Swimming Crab 

 (jjortunus arctuatus), one summer produced them in unusual 

 abundance. 



Murcena (Murcena Selena). Yery rare. Only one specimen re- 

 corded as Cornish or even British. It was taken in 1834. 



* Yarrell distinguishes it from A : Acutirostris principally by its habits of 

 feeding and a slight variance in the 'proportionate size of the bones of the 

 skull, These differences may well belong to the old and young of the same species. 



