1040 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
further forward, the gradual backward shortening of 
the rays being thus more extended, whence the more 
pointed form of the tail. The length of the head is 
always perceptibly less than the distance from the be- 
ginning of the dorsal tin to that of the anal, usually 
only 60 — 70 % thereof; but in Congers with an exces- 
sively long head this percentage may rise to 85. 
The pectoral tins are oval or obliquely pointed 
above, the upper rays being longest, and extending to 
about a line with the beginning of the dorsal tin, some- 
what beyond or somewhat short of the same. Their 
length is about 6 % — in Krdyer’s youngest specimen 
only 4 % — of that of the body, or about 10 — 15 % 
of the distance between the anal tin and the tip of 
the snout. 
Iu the scaleless skin the depressed, straight lateral 
line with its light (white or yellowish white) pores is 
distinct throughout the length of the body. 
The coloration of the dorsal side and the tip of 
the tail is gray, with a more or less pronounced tinge 
of chocolate-brown, lighter or darker, sometimes even 
black, the ventral side is white, >14111 a dash of violet 
behind. The base of the dorsal tin is of the same 
colour as the back, but towards the top the tin becomes 
ash-gray or violet, to a greater and greater extent be- 
hind, and the extreme margin is black. This black 
tint also appears on the posterior part of the margin 
of the anal tin, the rest of this tin being grayish blue 
or violet, growing paler in front. The pectoral tins 
are black at the upper margin, ash-gray or violet with 
a white or yelloAvish white rim on the outside, dark, 
sometimes .quite black, on the inner (posterior) surface. 
The top of the head in colour resembles the back; the 
lips and its under surface are of the same hue as the 
belly, the former, however, with a more or less distinct 
tinge of tiesh colour; the cheeks have a more or less 
powerful metallic lustre. The iris is sometimes silvery, 
punctated with black, sometimes of a metallic lustre. 
In old Congers the inside of the mouth and the bran- 
chial cavities are principally black; in the young the 
mouth and tongue at least are white. 
The Conger, as the Swedish name conveys, is 
distinctly a salt-water tish, and has a wide geographical 
range, extending almost round the globe. It is known 
from the east coasts both of North and South America, 
from St. Helena and the west coast of Europe, the 
Mediterranean, India, Japan, New South Wales, and 
Tasmania. On the west coast of America it has never 
been found. Its true home hardly extends into Scan- 
dinavian waters, though it can by no means.be regarded 
as rare on the west coast of Sweden, and sometimes 
strays even into the Baltic. Storm received specimens 
from the outer parts of Trondhjem Fjord; but farther 
north it has never been taken. On the shelving west 
coast of Jutland it seems to be rarer than in Norway; 
but several specimens are known from the Skager Rack, 
the Cattegat, and the Sound. Esmark received a Lepio- 
cepJialus caught, it was stated, in Christiania Fjord, 
and perhaps a proof that the Conger may spaAvn not 
far from Scandinavia, though these larval forms rove 
considerable distances in the ocean. In 1877 Malm 
estimated that at most between 20 and 30 specimens 
had been secured during the preceding 30 years on 
the SAvedish coast. Nilsson received a specimen nearly 
15 dm. long from Halmstad, and another (in the Avin- 
ter of 1853), 24 dm. long, from Landskrona. The 
latter, according to Lilljeborg, had been left by the 
waves on a sandbank; and a female 16 dm. long Avas 
found under similar circumstances off Raa (near Hel- 
singborg) at the beginning of March, 1883, and for- 
Avarded by Dr. Trybom to the Royal Museum. Mobius 
and Heincke mention two specimens from Eckernforde 
Bay, the one 2 m. long and 34 v / 2 kilo, in weight, the 
other weighing 45 kilo., one from Travemunde Bay, 
measuring 17 dm. and Aveighing 1 4 3 / 4 kilo., and one 
from Kiel Harbour, 16 dm. in length and over 15 kilo, 
in Aveight. According to Mela the Conger has even 
penetrated into the Gulf of Finland, to the Nyland 
coast. It is plentiful on the English and French coasts 
and, above all, in the Mediterranean. In the Black 
Sea it is rare off the Crimea, but is often seen in 
Constantinople. 
The true haunts of the Conger lie in 20 — 50 fa- 
thoms of Avater, but it ascends between the tide-marks, 
and has been found at Ioay water on dry land. It 
shares the preference of the common Eel for a noc- 
turnal life, and in the daytime sIioavs the same procli- 
vity for hiding among Aveeds and stones, in crevices 
and in the sand. Off the mouths of rivers it lies in 
Avait for the migratory fishes on their upAvard and 
dowmvard journeys. It has great poAvers of endurance 
and a robust appetite. Its dentition shows that it is 
one of the most formidable predatory fishes. With the 
pointed, though smaller, front teeth it seizes its prey, 
and Avith the sharp edges formed by the close-set, 
larger jaAv-teeth it mangles the victim. Its strength 
