i887 LETTERS FROM SWITZERLAND I g I 



Forel has just been paying a visit to the Arolla glacier for 

 the purpose of ascertaining the internal temperature. He told 

 me he much desired to have a copy of the Report of the Krakatoa 

 Committee. If it is published, will you have a copy sent to him? 

 He is Professor at Lausanne, and a very good man. 



Our stay here will depend on the weather. At present it is 

 perfect. I do not suppose we shall leave before 7th or 8th of 

 September, and we shall get home by easy stages not much 

 before the end of the month. Ever yours very faithfully, 



T. H. HUXLEY. 



Madder than ever on Gentians. 



The following is in reply to Sir E. Frankland's enquiries 

 with reference to the reported presence of fish in the reser- 

 voirs of one of the water-companies. 



HOTEL RIGHI VAUDOIS, GLION, Sept. 16, 1887. 



We left Arolla about ten days ago, and after staying a day 

 at St. Maurice in consequence of my wife's indisposition, came 

 on here where your letter just received has followed me. I am 

 happy to say I am quite set up again, and as I can manage my 

 1500 or 2000 feet as well as ever, I may be pretty clear that my 

 pleurisy has not left my lung sticking anywhere. 



I will take your enquiries seriatim. ( i ) The faith of your 

 small boyhood is justified. Eels do wander overland, especially 

 in the wet stormy nights they prefer for migration. But so far 

 as I know this is the habit only of good-sized, downwardly-mov- 

 ing eels. I am not aware that the minute fry take to the land 

 on their journey upwards. 



(2) Male eels are now well known. I have gone over the 

 evidence myself and examined many. But the reproductive 

 organs of both sexes remain undeveloped in fresh water just 

 the contrary of salmon, in which they remain undeveloped in 

 salt water. 



(3) So far as I know, no eel with fully-developed repro- 

 ductive organs has yet been seen. Their matrimonial operations 

 go on in the sea where they spend their honeymoon, and we 

 only know the result in the shape of the myriads of thread-like 

 eel-lets, which migrate up in the well-known " eel-fare." 



(4) On general principles of eel-life I think it possible that 

 the Inspector's theory may be correct. But your story about the 

 roach is a poser. They certainly do not take to walking abroad. 

 It reminds me of the story of the Irish milk-woman who was 



