THE ELECTRIC EEL. 1Q1 



Its singular power of eleetr'rfying. 



and sometimes ventures into the lakes with which 

 they communicate. It frequently comes to the 

 surface of the water to fetch breath, and when 

 deprived of fresh air it soon dies. Its flesh is fat 

 and of a good flavor; that of the back is firm and 

 full of small bones; but that of the belly is soft 

 and of a glutinous quality. It is eaten both by 

 the whites and the negroes. The peculiar species 

 of electricity, or galvanism, exerted at pleasure 

 by this singular animal, has, with justice, attractr 

 ed the attention of naturalists. Torpedo-like, it 

 gives a shock to any body, or number of bodies 

 connected together. 



Mr. Richer, who, in 1671, was sent to Cay- 

 enne, by the Academy of Paris, to conduct some 

 mathematical observations, was the first that 

 made known the wonderful properties of the 

 electric eel to the philosophers of Europe. " I 

 was greatly surprised," says he, " to see a fish 

 three or four feet in length, resembling an eel, 

 which, when touched with a finger, or even with 

 a slick, benumbed the arm and the part of the 

 body next to it, in such a manner that any per- 

 son making the experiment remained a quarter 

 of an hour without being able to move it. I was 

 an eye-witness of this effect, and have even felt 

 it myself, having one day touched with my finger 

 a-fish of this kind that was still alive, and in the 

 possession of some savages, who had wounded it 

 with an arrow, by means of which they had 

 it out of the water. I could.jiot learn the name 



