SNIG EEL. 
S.31 
SNIG EEL. 
Anguilla mediorostris, Yarkeli; Br. rishes, vol. ii, p. 401. 
It seems generally allowed that there are not known any 
certain external characters by which the Eel thus designated 
by Mr. Yarrell may be definitely distinguished from others; it 
therefore becomes a question how far the difference between 
them in the processes of the vertebrie, and their entire absence 
in this species on the first five of these bones from the head, 
can be relied on as furnishing a sure and constant mark of its 
distinction from the others. I have seen Mr. Yarrell’s specimens 
when in that gentleman’s possession, and it is believed that 
they are now in the collection of the British Museum; but 
some hesitation on the subject still remains, since there does 
not exist any external mark by which this kind is to be readily 
recognised. We therefore content ourselves with observing that 
this so-called Snig Eel is supposed to be generally of smaller 
size than the others; and that more particularly where in the 
other Eels the first vertebrse from the head are strongly armed 
with elevated and diverging processes, to the latter of which 
the ribs are attached, in the Snig there are none, but that the 
vcrtebrao are almost entirely smooth. A question arises whether 
this may be the fish which Mr. Jago, at the end of Ray’s 
“Synopsis Piscium,” has termed a Free Eel, f Anguilla libera; ) 
and of which he says, “A Congro differt sapore jucundiore, 
et ossiculorum defectu, quibus Congri abundant;” this supposed 
absence of ribs has not otherwise been noticed. 
But while leaving these matters for further inquiry, we venture 
to bring forward the claim of another supposed species, which 
has been called by the name of Grigg, 
and which Mr. Yarrell 
