EEL. 223 



deed is now, I believe, generally allowed ; that 

 though, for the most part, these fish may migrate to 

 the sea before winter commences, many do not; 



from an inch and a half to two inches in length, ahout the thick- 

 ness of threads, and nearly white ! 



M. Joannis, who is the author of the communication above allu- 

 ded to, says, that, on hearing this circumstance, which appeared 

 to him so interesting, and decisive of the question as to eels being 

 viviparous, he pressed the man with numerous questions, the re- 

 sult of which was as follows : 



It appears that, the moment the man first perceived the circum- 

 stance, the eel was still in the act of giving birth to its young, for 

 he found one which was only half excluded. A small quantity of 

 glairy matter was at the bottom of the dish, but very little ; the 

 young ones which were already born were beginning to climb, with 

 a serpentine motion, the sides of the large dish ; some were glued 

 to it by the posterior part of their body, raising their heads in a 

 convulsive manner ; others were dead ; others were in a state of 

 agitation, and especially at the bottom of the dish. Their two 

 eyes were observed very distinctly, resembling two large black 

 points. In general, it was remarked that the little ones which 

 crept along the sides of the dish were much fettered in their 

 movements by a gluey matter, with which their bodies were 

 covered, and which caused them more or less to adhere. 



I have given the above just as it is stated in a brief notice of 

 this memoir published in L'Institut, vol. vii. (1839), p. 67. I am 

 far from thinking that the evidence is conclusive in respect of the 

 point sought to be established. It is to be regretted that the 

 author did not see the young eels himself (which had been thrown 

 away by the man as good for nothing), and thereby prove that 

 they were not mere intestinal worms, as some of the reputed 

 young eels, found in other cases in the body of the parent fish 

 itself, have been conjectured to be. I insert the statement how- 

 ever, for the interest and information of those in whose way the 

 above Journal may not fall, and in order to excite further inquiry 

 on the* subject. 



