THE TRUE FISHES. 





was doubtless due also to the movements of the eels in tl il, and 



accounted for their not drying up, in the fine season, with the res 

 creek. Thus, whilst alligators and turtles in this greal inundated 

 region retire to the larger pools during the dry season, the eli 

 make for themselves little ponds in which to pass the q of drou^ 



" My companions now cut each a stout pole, and proceeded 

 the eels in order to get at the other fishes, with which they had 'li- 

 the ponds to abound. I amused them all very much by showing how 



Fig. 299. — Electrical eel {Gymnotus electribus). 



electric shock from the eels could pass from one person to another. 

 joined hands in a line whilst I touched the biggesl and freshei 

 animals on the head with the point of my hunting-knife. U e 

 this experiment did not succeed more than three times witb I 

 when out of water; for the fourth time the shock was s v 1" 



tible." The other fish in the pools all proved to be one ol the ai 

 horned pouts already alluded to. in 



A friend of the writer told his experience with one 

 had been on a collecting expedition to the Amazon and was tr 



