EEL. 93 



EEL. 



THE Eel, in the natural arrangement of the 

 animal world, may be considered as in some degree 

 connecting the fish and serpent tribes ; it is a native 

 of almost all the rivers, lakes, and ponds in England ; 

 its general colour is olive brown on the back, 

 and silvery on the sides beneath; it is, however, 

 occasionally seen of a very dark colour, with 

 scarce any silvery tinge, and sometimes of a yellow 

 or greenish cast; those that inhabit the clearest 

 waters are observed to be the most beautiful. The 

 lower jaw of the Eel extends beyond the upper; 

 the head is small and pointed ; the eyes are small, 

 round, and covered by a transparent skin united 

 with the common integument of the body; the 

 opening of the mouth is small, and both jaws and 

 tongue are beset with several ranges of small sharp 

 teeth ; the skin is proverbially slippery, being fur- 

 nished with a large proportion of mucus, or slime ; 

 it is also furnished with small deeply-imbedded 

 scales, which are not easily visible in the living 

 animal, but are very conspicuous in the dried skin. 



The Eel is extremely tenacious of life, and may 

 be kept many hours, or even days, out of water, 

 provided it be placed in a cool situation ; it is even 

 affirmed that it voluntarily leaves the water at certain 



