2*6 On the Natural History of t lie common Eel. 



In the larger rivers communicating with thesea, although 

 the elvers appear to advance in vast bodies, I do not ima- 

 gine their niigrilion, either in its commencement or pro- 

 gress, is made in concerted shoals ; it seeming more pro- 

 bable that the number found together is accidental, and arises 

 from the continual supply sent off from the quarter svhere 

 they originate. This is confirmed in the small streams, 

 where each individual is seen making its way by its own 

 solilarv efforts. 



In summer all the large eels in rivers'and brooks conceal 

 themselves during the day under large stones and roots of 

 trees, and in the crevices of rocks and walls, and even in 

 earth-holes of the banks ; and in these situations they ob- 

 tain a large proportion of their food, being alwavs on the 

 watch to seize small fish, or other prey that the stream or 

 accident throws into their concealment; and I think it is 

 much more probable that the eels which do not find their 

 way down to the sea, pass the winter ita sin)ilar situations, 

 rather than bedded in mud, or in any other of the fanciful 

 modes which have been assigned them. 



Such are a few of the principal facts in the natural his- 

 tory of the common eel, a creature which every where su.- 

 rounds us in the greatest abundance, and yet its origin and 

 final disposal are equally unknown. That it never does 

 breed in fresh water seems to be a fact well establishied; 

 and the periodical descent of the old ones to the sea, and 

 ascent of the young; ones from thence, strongly evince 

 that the scene of their propagation is in the sea itself, or 

 very near to the mouths of rivers, and that it is there that 

 inquiries on the subject should be prosecuted. 



The growth of the eel, like that of most other fish of 

 prev, does not appear limited to any determinate natural 

 bulk, but to be governed only by the age and abundance' 

 of food. In this country they are indiscriminately of every 

 size, up to eight or nine pounds weight. They have gene- 

 rally been supposed viviparous : but the immense abun- 

 dance of the young certainly bespeaks an oviparous pro- 

 geny; and this is supported bv analogy in the lamprey eel, 

 which breeds commonly enough in most of our estuaries. 



The tenacioas vitality of the eel is well known, and is 

 very extraordinary; for after decapitation, skinning, and 

 embowelling, the separated portions of the body will still 

 exhibit strong movement. This is a property seemingly 

 common to all similarly lengthened animals, and obviously 

 results from the comparatively small proportion of nerves 



which 



