CLASS PISCES.
115
seventy or a hundred yards distant. These, probably, had at
some time or other passed from the brook to the garden
fence.
Some of the most remarkable ichthyological observations
of recent years are those of Prof. Grassi on the development
of some species of Muraenidae, and particularly of the Com-
mon Eel, which have been communicated to the Royal
Society (Proc. Roy. Soc., vol. lx., pp. 260-271), and are
summarised in the Essex Nat. (vol. ix., p. 261). The larva of
the Eel is the little fish called by Pennant Leptocephalus
brevirostris, which lives in abysmal waters, and is very rarely
found floating on the surface. The form described by Yarrell
as L. morrisii has been proved by Grassi to be the larva of
the Conger Eel. The whole subject is one of the greatest
interest to naturalists, and is an admirable example of the
necessity and value of careful and long-continued observation
of even the commonest species.
I consider Eels the very finest and most delicious of our
fresh-water fish, especially after they have left our rivers and
taken up their residence in salt water. This statement may
partake somewhat of the character of an Irish bull; but the
meaning I wish to convey is that an Eel from salt water is
free from muddy flavour, and is in every way superior to the
same fish during its residence in fresh water.
Genus CONGER, Cuvier.
Conger vulgaris, Cuvier. Conger.
Our sandy coast is not suited to the habits of this fish.
An occasional one is, however, taken. One of 40 lbs. weight
is recorded (Essex Standard, Jan. 31st, 1885) as having been
picked up on the beach at Clacton-on-Sea. Day, quoting
Donovan, says (Fishes of Great Britain, vol. ii., p. 253) one of
130 lbs. weight was captured at the Nore. In the Zoologist