1887 LETTERS FROM SWITZERLAND 31 



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, dowTiwardly-moving 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 -svith fully-developed 

 reproductive 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 confronted with a stickleback 

 found in the milk. " Sure, then, it must have been bad 

 for the poor cow when that came through her teat." 



Surely the Inspector cannot have overlooked such a 

 crucial fact as the presence of other fish in the reservoirs ? 



We shall be here another week, and then move slowly 

 back to London. I am loth to leave this place, which 

 is very beautiful with splendid air and charming Avalks 

 in all directions — two or three thousand feet up if you 

 like. 



Hotel Eighi Vatjdois, Glion, Switzerland, 

 Sept. 16, 1887. 



My dear Donnelly — We left AroUa for this place 

 ten days ago, but my wife fell ill, and we had to stay 

 a day at St. Maurice. She has been more or less out of 



