.56 LECTURE VIII. 



Electric Eel. It is an animal of an unpleasant ap- 

 pearance, bearing a general resemblance to a very 

 large Eel, but thicker in proportion, and is gene- 

 rally of a very dark blackish brown colour. The 

 length of such specimens as have been brought 

 into Europe have hardly exceeded three or four 

 feet, but in its native regions of South-America, 

 and particularly in the river Surinam in the pro- 

 vince of that name, it is said to arrive at the 

 length of seven, ten, or even fifteen feet. It was 

 first made known to the Philosophers of Europe 

 about the year 1671, when its wonderful proper- 

 ties were described to the French academy by a 

 Dr. Richer, one of those sent out by the academy 

 to conduct some mathematical observations at 

 Cayenne. The fish possesses the highest possible 

 degree of natural electricity or galvanism, so that 

 when touched it communicates a very powerful 

 electric shock; so powerful indeed that it is 

 affirmed to be sometimes fatal to incautious 

 swimmers who happen to encounter it in its na- 

 tive waters. By this electric power it supports 

 its life ; suddenly stupifying such smaller fishes or 

 other animals on which it preys, and then devour- 

 ing them. To those who may wish for a more 



