84 WATER POUCHES OF THE EEL. 



this slit we find that it enters a large cavity ; next, take 

 a pair of scissors and cut open this cavity, inside we 

 shall find the gills proper. It is this cavity which the 

 eel has the marvellous power of filling with water, and 

 keeping a supply which shall not allow the gill fibres 

 to adhere together, and thence of necessity stop respira- 

 tion. This cavity is of course made of a large and 

 loose skin-like membrane, which holds the required 

 quantity of water ; but in order to enable him to fill 

 and empty this cavity, an elastic yet firm mechanism 

 of some kind is absolutely necessary. 



See for yourselves what a beautiful piece of machinery 

 is provided by the Creator. A framework of very 

 delicate bones, each bone connected with its neighbour 

 by an elastic membrane of the consistency of gold- 

 beaters'-skin, forms a fan-shaped covering over the 

 gills ; its action is very like, if not exactly the same as, 

 the action of an umbrella. When the eel wishes to 

 take in his water-supply he, as it were, opens the 

 umbrella-shaped framework and fills his reservoir ; when 

 he wishes to expel the water he, as it were, closes his 

 umbrella, as his reservoir is no longer required to come 

 into action. 



If an eel be taken out of the water and placed on the 

 floor of a room, and left there for some time, it will be 

 seen that he will very soon expand his reservoir. After 

 a time he will be desirous to refill his reservoir ; take 

 him up and put his head into a basin, you will see that 

 he will immediately take two or three great gulps so as 

 to restock his breathing bags. It is by this beautiful 

 piece of mechanism that the eel is enabled to live so 

 much longer out of water than any other fish ; and 

 also, as I have stated before, to shift his quarters when 

 it is desirable to do so. 



