COMMON EEL. 17 



back-fin commences at some distance beyond the 

 head, and is continued into the tail-fin, which is 

 also united with the vent-fin ; the latter being con- 

 tinued as far as the vent, which is situated near the 

 middle of the belly. The general colour of the Eel 

 is olive-brown on the back, and silvery on the sides 

 and beneath : the fins are slightly tinged with violet, 

 and sometimes margined with pale red : the Eel is 

 however occasionally seen of a very dark colour, with 

 scarce any silvery tinge, and sometimes yellowish, 

 or greenish : those are observed to be most beautiful 

 which inhabit the clearest waters. The skin of the 

 Eel is proverbially slippery, being furnished with a 

 large proportion of mucus : it is also furnished with 

 small, deeply-imbedded scales, which are not easily- 

 visible in the living animal, but are very conspicu- 

 ous in the dried skin : their form is a long oval, 

 their colour white, and their texture finely reticular : 

 these scales appear to have been first observed, or 

 at least described, by the celebrated Leewenhoek, 

 who has figured them with great accuracy and 

 elegance. The Eel is extremely tenacious of life, 

 and may be kept many hours, or even days, out of 

 water, provided it be placed in a cool situation : it 

 is even affirmed that it voluntarily leaves the water 

 at certain periods, and wanders about meadows and 

 moist grounds in quest of particular food, as snails 

 &c. it is also said to be fond of new-sown peas, 

 which it has been observed to root out of the ground 

 and devour during the night. If we may credit 

 Albertus magnus, it has been known, during very 

 severe frosts, to take refuge in adjoining hay-ricks ; 

 v. iv. P. i. 2 



