240 AP.ODES. 



oftentimes overpowering their prey by suddenly 

 coiling round the bodies of fishes, whose bones and 

 flesh are bruised instantly into jelly. 



On the whole, we view the eel in the light of 

 a water-serpent, being the connecting link be- 

 tween purely aquatic and amphibious reptiles. 

 That the flesh is nutritious cannot be denied, and 

 so is the rattle-snake, and eaten too, by the abo- 

 rigines with as good a relish as the epicurian 

 swallows his potted eels. Though we are unwill- 

 ing to eat them ourselves, simply from the influence 

 of unpleasant associations, yet, as the toper said 

 of the flies, when he put them back into the tum- 

 bler, though we don't like to swallow them, we do 

 not know but others may.* 



After the formation of ice, in the autumn, eels 

 bury themselves two and three feet deep in the 

 mud, where they remain in a partially torpid state 

 till the returning warmth of spring ; they are so 

 easily affected by cold that individuals rarely leave 

 their quarters, unless forced to by the fishermen. 

 At the commencement of winter, multitudes of 



*" Up jumped the Bacchanalian crew, on this, 

 Taking it very much amiss, 



Swearing, and in the attitude to smite — 

 • Lord,' cries the man, with gravely lifted eyes, 



' Though I dont like to swallow flies, 

 / did not know but others might.' " 



Peter Pindar. 



