THE EEL FAMILY. 391 



whilst others again, which have been frequently and in- 

 tentionally stocked with them, cannot be made to produce 

 a single specimen : the quality of the water is obnoxious to 

 them, or the food is not to their taste ; and they leave such 

 pools during the night and seek fresh retreats, having been 

 on several occasions actually caught in transitu. An in- 

 stance of this is mentioned by Dr. Hastings *: "A relative 

 of the late Mr. Perrott was out in his park with his keeper, 

 near a large piece of water, on a beautiful evening, when 

 the keeper drew his attention to a fine Eel ascending the 

 bank of the pool, and with an undulating motion making 

 its way through the long grass: on further observation 

 he perceived a considerable number of Eels quietly pro- 

 ceeding in the same manner to a range of stews nearly a 

 quarter of a mile distant from the large piece of water 

 whence they started. The stews were supplied by a rapid 

 brook ; and in all probability the instinct of the fish led 

 them in that direction as a means of finding their way to 

 some large river, where their ultimate destination, the sea, 

 might be obtained." This circumstance took place at 

 Sandford Park, near Enstone. 



The mode in which Eels effect their escape from a basin 

 or other similar place of confinement is peculiar. They 

 commence tail instead of head first, throwing the former 

 over the edge of the vessel, and by this means gradually 

 lifting themselves out. In all the Eels and other bur- 

 rowing fish the tail is remarkably powerful and muscular. 



* Illustrations of the Natural History of Worcestershire, p. 134. 



