180 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Description. 



which by a sudden jerk draws close, and brings 

 them to land. 



THE EEL. 



EELS have a smooth head and tubular nos- 

 trils ; their gill-membrane has ten rays ; the body 

 is nearly cylindrical, smooth, and slippery. The 

 tail and the back and anal fins are united : the 

 spiracle is behind the head or the pectoral fins. 

 There are about nine species of the eel, most 

 of which are found only in the seas. This fish 

 was neglected by the Romans, but highly esteem- 

 ed by the Sybarites. 



The common eel forms evidently a connecting 

 link, in the chain of nature, between the ser- 

 pents and fish, possessing not only, in a great 

 measure, the serpent form, but also many of their 

 habits. 



This fish is frequently known to quit its ele- 

 ments, and to wander, in the evening or night, 

 over meadows in search of snails and other prey, 

 or to other ponds for change of habitation. This 

 will account for eels being found in waters that 

 have not been in the least suspected to contain 

 them. An instance of this rambling spirit of the 

 eels is mentioned in Plott's JSatural History of 

 Staffordshire; and, from the following couplet 



