GENERATION OF EELS. 191 



river; but to your question, do they breed 

 here? I must answer in the negative. The 

 problem of their generation is the most 

 abstruse, and one of the most curious, in 

 natural history; and though it occupied the 

 attention of Aristotle, and has been taken 

 up by most distinguished naturalists since 

 his time, it is still unsolved. 



Phys. — I thought there was no doubt on 

 the subject. Lacepede, whose book is the 

 only one I have read with attention, asserts, 

 in the most unqualified way, that they are 

 viviparous. 



Hal. — I remember his assertion, but I 

 looked in vain for proofs. 



Phys. — I do not remember any facts 

 brought forward on the subject ; but tell us 

 what you think upon it. 



Hal. — I will tell you all I know, which is 

 not much. This is certain, that there are 

 two migrations of eels, — one up and one 

 down rivers, one from and the other to the 

 sea; the first in spring and summer, the 

 second in autumn or early winter. , The 

 first of very small eels, which are sometimes 



