342 
CONGER. 
ground from such as keep on the plain and open surface; 
for it is found that even those which are met with in a narrow 
stripe of sand, and more decidedly those which inhabit a 
wide and open space, are of a light colour, and even white, 
while the inhabitants of rocks are decidedly black, and near 
the rocky land intensely so. There is a well-known rock on 
the coast of Cornwall, about five leagues from the land, and 
standing up from the plain ground which spreads to a large 
distance round it. The top of this rock is full of gullies 
shaded Avith Aveeds, and Congers which are caught on it are 
always black, while close to its base these fish are ahvays 
white. 
It is only by night that these fish display activity, and even 
moonlight will interfere with the success of the fishery. Their 
appetite is variable, but at times voracious, and they exercise 
delicate choice in Avhat they devour. It is supposed that they 
give a preference to prey which is of a brilliant colour, and 
they are eager after Avhat is alive or but very lately dead, 
while a bait that is tainted will not be suecessful. They are 
sufficiently sly or nimble to obtain Soles and Plaice, and make 
no scruple of devouring young ones of their own kind. 
Skulpins and even the well-armed Weevers are often found in 
their stomachs. Pish of larger size are also their prey; and 
an example of no unusual size was found to have one that 
weighed ten pounds in its stomaeh. I have taken a lobster 
of the largest magnitude from the stomach of a Conger; and 
one of fifty pounds Avas found to have seized a Hake which 
Aveighed four pounds, which it had laid hold of high in the 
water, up which they sometimes have mounted to a depth of 
seven or eight fathoms over the sounding of fifty fathoms. 
Pilchards, Herrings, and Cuttles are at all times successful 
baits; and in our description we shall point out the organization 
of the sensations of this fish, so as to shcAV that it is Avell 
qualified to exert great skill in the selection of its food. 
Digestion is very speedy, and when a hook is SAvallowed it 
becomes acted on and consumed in a very short time. 
The manner in which these fish were propagated lay Ion"- 
under the veil of obscurity, as was the case Avith the Eel, 
and for the same reason; but examination has shewn that the 
milt and roe are placed along the course of the dorsal portion 
