48 CATECHISM OF 



up, but spared the monster's life on account of 

 former friendship. 



Q. What is Muraena Conger ? 



A. Muraena Conger, or the Conger Eel, isa large 

 species, inhabiting the European seas and rivers. 

 It is extremely voracious, preying upon other fish, 

 upon crabs before the shell is become hard, and 

 carcases that may happen to float near its haunts. 



Q. How many species compose the genus Gym- 

 notus ? 



A. This genus consists of no less than fifteen 

 species, one of which, Gymnotus Electricus, is a 

 phenomenon that deserves a minute description. 



The Gymnotus Electricus, or Electrical Eel, in- 

 habits the larger rivers of Africa and America, 

 particularly those of Surinam. It bears a gene- 

 ral resemblance to an eel, but grows sometimes 

 to the length of ten feet, and is of a uniform 

 blackish brown colour. 



Q. What renders this fish particularly remark- 

 able ? 



A. Its wonderful electrical powers ; if this fish 

 be touched with one hand, a shock is felt similar 

 to that received from a charged phial ; if by both 

 hands, the shock is conveyed through the breast in 

 the usual manner. When this fish is in its native 

 waters, it gives a shock to those who happen in- 

 cautiously to tread upon it when bathing, so strong 

 as almost to deprive them of sense and motion. 



