94? ABT OF ANGLING. 



periods, and wanders about meadows and moist 

 grounds in quest of particular food, as snails, &c. 

 This will account for Eels being found in waters 

 that have not been in the least suspected to contain 

 them. 



The usual food of the Eel consists of water- 

 insects, worms, and the spawn or eggs of other fish ; 

 it will also devour almost any decayed animal sub- 

 stance, which it happens occasionally to find in its 

 native waters. It is viviparous, producing its 

 numerous young during the decline of summer; 

 these, at their first exclusion, are very small. The 

 errors of the ancients on this subject, and even of 

 some modern writers, are too absurd to be seriously 

 mentioned in the present enlightened period of 

 science; it appears, however, that both eggs and 

 ready-formed young are occasionally observed in the 

 same individuals, as is known to be the case with 

 several other animals. 



During the day the Eel commonly lies concealed 

 in its hole, which it forms pretty deep beneath the 

 banks, and which is furnished with two outlets, in 

 order to facilitate its escape if disturbed : during 

 the winter it chiefly conceals itself beneath the 

 mud, and on the return of spring commences its 

 excursions into rivers, &c." 



The general length of the Eel is from two to 



