ORIGIN OF THE SILVER EEL. 27 



drained this marsh by digging an open 

 ditch through the centre of it. As the 

 work of draining proceeded they came 

 upon quantities of silver eels, for whose 

 presence in that spot they could in no way 

 account. Hearing of my discovery, they 

 applied to me for information. Going up 

 the drain one day with them, I captured a 

 few beetles, and informed them that these 

 insects were the parents of the eels ; they 

 believed me, and rejoiced in the solution of 

 the mystery. 



