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mistake the two fatty folds for these frill-like ones. Syrsxr 
discovered these male organs by turning to one side and laying 
back the fatty folds, when they appeared as a very narrow light 
band, connected on either side to the vertebral column, often 
so narrow, and with an appearance so glass-like and transparent, 
that they could only be recognised by the naked eye when held 
in an oblique direction towards the sun. But the presence of 
spermatozoids in these male organs still remained undetected, 
their form and undisputable living movements not having been 
seen; consequently it would seem to be necessary that males, 
as well as females, must have first entered salt water before 
this development can take place. 
In 1881 Dr Hermes, when examining a conger that had died 
in the Havre Aquarium, found in it the same Syrsx1an or male 
organs as had been discovered in the common freshwater Eel, 
but much more largely developed. On its being cut into a 
milky fluid exuded, which, under the microscope, with a power 
of 450 diameters, showed a large number of spermatozoa, all 
in the liveliest state of motion, and in which their heads and 
tails were distinctly visible, thus conclusively setting at rest all 
discussion on the true character of these organs. 
Sterile female Hels, which may be permanently or merely 
temporarily in this condition, have their ovaries in a very 
anomalous condition. Instead of the fatty and yellowish-white 
frilled band will be seen a thin frothy-looking band, destitute 
of fat, and having very few folds—it is often as transparent as 
glass, but otherwise of the same length and breadth as the 
normal frill-like bands. In its substance eggs may be detected 
with the aid of the microscope; but they are transparent. 
These Hels have generally, not invariably, been found to be very 
broad-headed ones, mostly possessing very small eyes, while in 
those present in brackish water marshes their flavour is stated 
to be delicious, and they are much sought after by epicures. 
Having thus briefly described the anatomical appearances 
observed in the sexual organs of Hels of both sexes, as well as 
of sterile ones, it becomes necessary to allude to the localities 
in which each of these forms may be normally found. Here, 
E 
