BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 



being that the disturbance caused to the water sets them 

 wandering. One Eel has been known to travel nearly 

 800 miles in 93 days, the specimen in question having 

 been marked and recaptured. Their food consists of a 

 varied diet of aquatic birds, cray-fishes, frogs, fish, 

 water-voles, etc. 



When handled, the Eel, unlike Snakes, is very slimy 

 to the touch, and its body is covered with small groups 

 of minute scales. It is possessed of great tenacity, and 

 will live for a long time out of water. When in their 

 growing dress, these fishes are referred to as Yellow 

 Eels, and in their breeding attire as Silver Eels. The 

 former have brownish, greenish, or greyish on the back, 

 with yellow on the sides and underneath. When the 

 Yellow Eel is ready to go to the sea for spawning, it 

 changes its under-dress to silver, the back being blackish. 

 Both externally and internally there are other dis- 

 tinguishing features as between one form and the other. 

 Many points in the life-history of this interesting species 

 still require elucidation, and the diflferent changes under- 

 gone by the young are still imperfectly known. Only 

 during the last 25 years has our knowledge of the wonder- 

 ful transition stages of the Eel become manifest, and much 

 of its story is still wrapt in mystery. 



As showing that mistaken ideas still prevail regarding 

 wild creatures, the following extract from a book by a 

 Danish author (Carl Ewaid) recently published clearly 

 shows. The translation reads as follows : — 



** When the Eel puts his head above the mud, Mrs. 



78 



