i3f> iiisroav OF 



SECT. IJ. 



so FT- FINNED FISHES. 



Sofl-finned Apodal Fish. 



29. The Murcena or Eel. The body round and slender ; tlie 

 head terminating in a beak ; the fin covering the gills with ten 

 rays ; the opening to the gills pipe-fashion, placed near the pec- 

 toral fins J the fins of the back, the anus, and the tail, united in 

 one. 



30. The Gymnotus or Carapo. The body roundest on the 

 back, like the blade of a knife ; the head small ; the fin cover- 

 ing the gills with five rays ; the back without a fin ; two beards 

 or filaments from the upper lip ; an inhabitant of Brazil.* 



31. The Anarhicas or Wolf-fish. The body roundish and 

 slender ; the head large and blunt ; the fore-teeth above and 



* Electric Eels. — It is not only the crocodile and jaguar which in America 

 lie in ambush for the horse, but even among fishes this animal has a dange- 

 rous enemy. The marshy waters of Bera and Rastro are filled with the 

 electric eel, whose slimy yellow-spotted body sends forth at will terrible 

 shocks. These gymnotes are from five to six feet long, and sufficiently 

 strong to kill the most robust animals, when they bring their organs pro- 

 perly into action. At Uritucu they have been obUged to change the direc- 

 tion of the road, because the number of these ells had so much increased in a 

 little river, that annually a number of horses in passing the ford were killed. 

 All animals of their own element fly from these formidable eels ; even man 

 is surprised, when angling in the river, and receives the fatal shock by means 

 of the wetted line. The fishing for the gymnote presents a picturesque 

 spectacle. The Indians inclose a marshy spot and then drive horses and 

 mules into the water, until the noise excites these courageous fishes to the 

 attack. They are seen swiniminp on the surface like snakes, and admitly 

 insinuating themselves under the belly of the horses, many of which fall 

 under the violence of these invisible blows, while others, panting with 

 streaming mane and haggard eyes, expressive of anguish, strive to evade 

 the storm which threatens them ; but the Indians, armed with long bam- 

 boos, drive them back again into the middle of the water. The impetuosity 

 of this unequal combat at length diminishes. The gymnotes, fatigued, dis. 

 perse, like clouds deprived of the electric fluid, and require long repose and 

 abundant nourishment to repair the loss of the galvanic force. Their strokes, 

 getting feebler and feebler, produce a less sensible effect, until frightened at 

 length by the trampling of the horses, they timidly approach the banks, and 

 are then struck with harpoons by the Indians, and subsequently pulled on 

 the steppe with dry sticks, non-conductors of the fluid. 



