548 SUPPLEMENT ON 



templation re- awakens our slumbering sense of admiration, 

 and raises our thoughts to the infinite and mysterious source 

 of all the varieties of existence. There is scarcely anything 

 in nature more calculated to produce such a frame of mind 

 than the consideration of the extraordinary electrical powers 

 possessed by certain animals. 



The Gymnotus electricus attains the length of three feet, or 

 three feet and a half, and the circumference of its body in the 

 thickest part, is about fourteen or fifteen inches; individuals 

 have been seen of five or six feet in length. The head is full of 

 little holes, or very perceptible pores, which are the orifices 

 of vessels intended to shed over its surface a viscous humour. 

 Smaller, but analogous apertures are very numerously spread 

 over the body and tail, and secrete this gluey matter in such 

 abundance, that when these electric eels are preserved (as is 

 done at Surinam) in broad troughs, where they are fed with 

 worms and small fish, it is necessary to change the water 

 nearly every day. 



The general colour of this animal is blackish, with some 

 long and narrow stripes of a deeper shade. This colour varies 

 according to age and other circumstances. All those ob- 

 served by the Baron Humboldt were of rather a deep olive 

 green. The tail is much longer than the entire of the head 

 and body ; the muscles which move it are extremely power- 

 ful, and the animal whirls it about with astonishing agility. 

 The elements of strength, massiveness, and velocity are com- 

 bined in this organ. 



The electric gymnotus, from its very long, cylindrical, and 

 serpent-like body, resembles an eel of about five or six feet 

 long. It is not, however, as has been seen in the text, of the 

 same genus as the eel, but forms a genus of itself, belonging 

 to the same family. It inhabits the bosom of those immense 

 rivers which flow towards the eastern limits of South Ame- 

 rica, in regions which, though situated within the torrid 



