NORTHERN MEMOIRS. 335 



committed to her conduct ; because to protrude 

 and thrust them forth as inanimates, after the 

 manner of vegetation. Such are the ignorant 

 conceptions of Gesner, and the unthinking rab- 

 ble of his ridiculous proselytes ; who, because to 

 suck in such pernicious principles, have tainted, 

 nay poisoned themselves by infecting others : 

 For had they but considered that eels have eggs, 

 (tho not so long as other fish to bear them about 

 them) without dispute it would expose some of 

 them to a blush, if when to reflect on their erro- 

 neous rashness, that causeth the artist to laugh 

 at their ignorance. But that eels do germinate, 

 is past dispute ; for if the roe, or spawn, be the 

 product of germination, then eels, as other ani- 

 mals, may germinate in specie > because furnished 

 with all the qualities for germination ; as is ob- 

 served by the female fish, whose burdened belly 

 in the spring (if examined) will sufficiently con- 

 vince the incredulity of such as would by advice 

 be better informed, whilst permitting others to 

 content themselves with the vanity of ignorance, 

 that eels are insects. 



The eel therefore, you shall find him in caverns, 

 and the cavities sometimes of hollow rocks, grips 

 and gullies, devised on purpose by engineers for 

 the draining of grounds : Or else you may ob- 

 serve him in holes or hollow banks, the flaws in 



