446 NATURAL HISTORY. 



contradicting, having experienced the contrary effect." The 

 eel mentioned was a small one, only two feet long ; but one 

 that had arrived at its lull growth would have given a very 

 much stronger shock. An English sailor was i'airly knocked 

 down by a shock from one of these eels, nor did he recover his 

 senses for some time. It is said that the shock can pass up a 

 stick, and strike the person holding it. Mr. Bryant and a 

 companion were both struck while pouring off the water from 

 a tub in which an electric eel had been placed. 



Hurnboldt, in his " Views of Nature," gives a very animated 

 description of the method employed by the Indians to take 

 these formidable creatures a method equally ingenious and 

 cruel. Knowing from experience that the powers of the 

 gymnotus are not adequate to a constant volley of shocks, 

 they contrive that the shocks shall be expended on the horses 

 instead of themselves. 



Having found a pool containing electric eels, they force a 

 troop of wild horses to enter the pool. The disturbed eels 

 immediately attack the intruders, and destroy many of them 

 by repeated shocks ; but by constantly forcing fresh supplies 

 of horses to invade the pool, the powers of the gymnoti be- 

 come exhausted, and they are then dragged out with impunity. 



THE SHORT SUN-FISH. 



This order derives its name from the curious structure of the 

 jaws, which are fixed together in a very peculiar manner. 



The SHORT SuN-FiSH has been frequently taken in almost 

 all parts of our coasts. It is of a most singular shape, looking 

 as if three-fourths of a very large fish had been cut off, leaving 

 only the head and shoulders, something like a marine Baron 

 Munchausen's horse. 



It attains to a very large size, and has been known to weigh 

 three hundred pounds, its length being only four feet five 

 inches. 



It lives mostly at the bottom of the sea, but frequently 

 rises to the surface, and lies, perhaps, asleep, floating with the 



