306 
THE FAMILY OF EELS. 
Thb body is much lengthened, covered with a thick and 
soft skin, without the visible appearance of scales; openings 
of the gills small and simple. The fins without firm or bony 
rays; and in the British species the dorsal and anal fins are 
united to the tail, thus forming a single fin; no ventral fins, 
on which account they are termed apodal fishes. Lateral line 
straight when visible. 
ANGUILLA. 
In addition to the characters of this family given above, this genus 
is marked with the presence of pectoral fins, and the openings of the 
gills on each side close under these fins. Anguilla, Jonstou, pi 24, 
f. 7 and 8; AVilloughby, p. 109, pi. G 5. Murana anguilla, Linnmus; 
Illoch, pi. 72. Murhie anguille, Lacopede, who appears undeoided 
whether the Eels named by fishermen were varieties or distinct 
species; but Cuvier receives them as distinct, with the numes 
Anguilla xenmmx, A. longicc, A. platbec, and A. pimperneanx. 
Anguilla vulgaris, Fleming, British Animals, p. 199. A. acutirostris, 
Jenyns, Manual, p. 474; Tarrell, British Fishes, vol. ii, p. 381. A. 
tatirostris, Jenyns, Manual, p. 470; Yarroll, British Fishes, vol. ii, p. 
396. A. mediorostris, Jenyns, Manual, p. 477; Yarrell, British Fishes, 
vol. ii, p. 399. 
It is to be remarked that Aristotle recognised two distinct 
species of Eels; but his authority, however great, may have 
been less regarded as he also taught that the propagation of 
the species was spontaneous, without impregnation, or a 
difference of sex. 
Indeed while Eels were well known to the Greeks and 
Homans, these people had generally confused notions of their 
nature, as whether they were of one or several kinds, their 
origin and mode of increase, and even concerning their ordinary 
habits; so that the only thing in which they appear to have 
