ELECTRIC EEL. H5 



for months and even years in the mud of dried up pools, or in 

 holes destitute of water, and nevertheless, regain their activity, the 

 moment they were placed in their native element. This is not 

 the only circumstance under which these fishes display their re- 

 markable tenacity of life. They may be deprived of their skin, 

 and their viscera, and be cut in pieces, without depriving the 

 trunk of their body of the power of yet moving for some time. 

 In early life, they inhabit the sea, and in the spring the young 

 eels ascend rivers to dwell in fresh water, which, when full 

 grown, they abandon to deposit their eggs in the sea. 



23. The name of Conger Eels is applied to eels that differ very 

 little from common eels, except that they are of large size, and 

 always dwell in the sea or salt water. 



24. MUR^ENJE PROPERLY so CALLED, Mnrcena, are entirely 

 without pectoral fins, and their branchiae open on each side by a 

 small hole. The most celebrated species is the Murcena helena, 

 which attains more than three feet in length, and is marbled 

 throughout with brown and yellowish ; it is widely spread over 

 the Mediterranean, and was very highly esteemed by the 

 ancients. The Romans reared them in great numbers, in their 

 magnificent fish-ponds, decorated them with jewels, and taught 

 them to come at the sound of their master's voice. Hirrius was 

 the first to consecrate fish-ponds exclusively to muraense, and 

 he caused six thousand of these fishes to be served up at an 

 entertainment, given to Ca3sar when he was named dictator. 



25. The GYMNOTI, which have the gills partially closed by a 

 membrane, but opening in front of the pectoral fins, also belong 

 to this order. The Gymnoti properly 



so called, Gymnotiis,have, like the 

 other fishes of this division, a ventral 

 fin, which extends under the greater 

 part of the body, but they want the 

 fins at the end of the tail, and their 

 skin is without perceptible scales. 

 They inhabit the rivers of South 

 America, and one of them, the Elec- 

 tric Eel, Gymnotus electricm (Fig. 

 58.) is celebrated on account of the 



23. What are Conger Eels ? 



24. What are the characters of M uraenee properly so called ? What are 

 the characters of the Muraenae helena ? 



25. What are the characters of the Gymnoti properly so called ? What 

 are the characters of the electric Eel ? Where is it found ? What are its 

 habits ? 



