30 THE GYMNOTUS, OR ELECTRICAL EEL. 



little fishes in the same net with gymnoti, that the fishes are 

 found dead, and the crocodile expiring. The Indians, in such 

 cases, say that the young crocodile had not time to tear the 

 net, because the gymnotus had paralysed and put him horsdu 

 combat. These terrible fishes, although carnivorous and of 

 an aspect hideous as the serpent, are nevertheless in some 

 measure docile, and naturally of a peaceable disposition. 

 Much less active than our eels, they readily accustom them- 

 selves to their new prison ; they eat everything that is offer- 

 ed them, but without manifesting a great voracity. They do 

 not discharge their violent shocks unless irritated ; and then 

 especially if tickled along the under part of the body, at the 

 transparent part of the electric organs, at the pectoral fin, 

 the lips, the eyes, and especially if the skin be touched near 

 the gill-cover. All these parts seem to be the most sensible, 

 for here the skin is thinnest and least loaded with fat. 



Fishes and reptiles which have never before felt the shocks 

 of a gymnotus, do not seem to be warned of their danger by 

 any particular instinct. Although its form and size are rather 

 imposing, a little tortoise which we put into the same tub 

 approached it with confidence ; it wanted to hide itself under 

 the eel's belly; but scarcely had it touched it with the end of 

 one of its feet, when it received a shock, too feeble, indeed, 

 to kill it, but strong enough to make it retire as far away as 

 possible. From that moment the tortoise would no longer 

 remain in the vicinity of the torpedo. And so, in all the 

 pools or streamlets which it inhabits, one finds very few fishes 

 of any other species. The gymnotus often kills without de- 

 vouring its victim. It instinctively regards as an enemy 

 everything that approaches it. Like a cloud surcharged 

 with the electric fluid, he comes upon the fish he means to 

 destroy; when at a short distance from it, he rests for a few 

 seconds, necessary perhaps to prepare the storm that is to 

 burst, and then hurls his thunder against his devoted enemy.'' 

 — From the Voyage of Humbolt and Bonpland. 



[The remainder of these observations, with the mode of 

 taking the gymnotus by the natives, will be given in a future 

 Number]. 



THE CUCKOO. 



To the Editor of the Zoological Magazine. 



SlR, Liverpool, December 4, 1832. 



About the middle of July 1829 I got possession of a young 

 cuckoo, about half-fledged ; and on account of its insatiable 



