ORIGIN OF THE SILVER EEL. 39 



the silver eel. The beetle is a very timid 

 creature, and always hides except when in 

 search of food. It protects itself from frost, 

 by burrowing in the earth, under bushes of 

 heath, beside springs on Mil sides, or among 

 moss, where it is completely sheltered from 

 the blasts of winter. It is a lurking animal, 

 taking its prey by cunning for instance, it 

 pounces upon the disabled fly, dragging it 

 into its retreat, as also such heavy bodies as 

 worms ; and, as far as the water will allow, 

 the eel has a similar mode of securing its 

 food. It lies between large stones on the 

 edge of the stream, its head only being 

 visible, and when the minnow comes past, 

 the little fish is pounced upon, dragged 

 under the stone, and devoured. I have lost 

 many a minnow tackle by the eel. 



