THE SNIG EEL. 
227 
The Snig Eel, Anguilla mediorostris f Yarrell, 
Is taken in the North and South, and probably in lakes, &c., over the 
island. 
An eel of the size, form, colour, and habits attributed to this species is 
commonly taken about Belfast. It roves and feeds by day, and is then 
usually captured by rod and line, with an earthworm as bait. The only 
one of these which I dissected had however processes to the first five 
cervical vertebrae, which according to Mr. Yarrell the sp. does not pos- 
sess : for this reason a note of interrogation is given after the species. 
Comparing a specimen which I took to London with specimens of Mr. 
Yarrell’s, they were externally the same. 
Mr. Yarrell, p. 399, mentions that this eel is considered distinct from the 
common sp. in Hampshire, and so the one I allude to is at L. Neagh, where 
(the late Mr. Templeton , in his Catal. p. 10, alludes to three varieties) the 
fishermen distinguish three species ; this they call the Weed-eel ; the A. 
acutirostris they call Eel , Skull-eel, or Bann-eel, par excellence ; the A. 
latirostris they distinguish by the name of Gorb-eel, and Collach or 
Hunter-eel, on account of its comparative voracity. Small specimens 
from Youghal in Dr. Ball’s collection have the external characters of 
this species. 
Oct. 31 st, 1836. A few days ago I obtained an eel from a person 
who had just caught it in the Lagan with his rod. Its “ snout is rather 
long and moderately broad,” gape extending to middle of eye, less than 
^ of the entire length before the D. (2 in. 5 lines to D., thence to end of 
tail 5 in. 7 lines), one-eighth of entire length before P. (1 inch from lower 
jaw to P., thence to end of tail 7 inches), P. small, length 4 lines, from 
lower jaw to vent 3 in. 3 lines, thence to tail 4 in. 9 lines. 
Nov. 14 th, 1836. I to-day examined an eel from the Bann, which a 
few days ago I at once recognised amongst a sackful of Bann eels as 
the “ Weed-eel,” which I got several specimens of at Toome, in Sept., 
1834, believing them at that time to be quite distinct from the true Bann 
one (A. acutirostris). This specimen agrees in having the “ snout rather 
long and moderately broad, gape extending not quite to a vertical line 
from the posterior part of the orbit, rather less than ^ of entire length 
before the dorsals (it is 4^- in. to 10£ in.), and between ~ and ^ before 
the pectorals” (or If in. to 13), Jen. p. 477, vent 6 l in. from extremity of 
lower jaw, thence to end of tail 8^- inches. The colour of this eel is just 
similar to that of the specimen I got from Lagan on 31st ult., greenish 
olive, with a yellow tinge on back and sides, and rich gamboge yellow 
beneath. I thought it the A. mediorostris, until on dissection I found 
it possessed spinous processes on the first five cervical vertebrae. 
A specimen from Youghal of an eel 6 l inches long agrees in all cha- 
racters with this species as described by Mr. Jenyns ; its pectoral fins are 
rounded as in Mr. Yarrell’s figure of this species, though I believe he 
says nothing on this subject : see difference between his fig. of acutirostris 
and of mediorostris , in this particular. I find the difference shown in 
the figures in specimens of both species. 
The Conger Eel, Conger vulgaris, Cuv., 
Is common around the coast. 
It is sought for chiefly in the months of May and June, but is doubtless 
to be had at all times. Conger eels are generally caught on long lines ; to 
nets, when captured in them, they are very destructive. Mr. Meenan has 
Q 2 
