BOOK IX.] History of Nature. 137 



to Fish instead of Feet. None have above four; some have 

 two, some three, and others none. Only in the Lake Fucinus 

 there is a Fish, which in swimming useth eight Fins. All 

 Fishes that are long and slippery, as Eels and Congers, have 

 ordinarily two. Muraenae 1 have none, nor any Gills: all of 

 these Kinds act upon the Sea by bending their Bodies, as 

 Serpents on the Land. They creep also on dry Land ; and 

 therefore such are more retentive of Life. Also among flat 

 Fishes some have no Fins, as the Pastinaca ; 2 for their 

 Breadth serveth them sufficiently to swim with. And among 

 those which are denominated Soft, the Polypi have no Fins, 

 because their Feet stand them instead of Fins, 



CHAPTER XXI. 

 Of Eels* 



EELS live eight Years. And if the North Wind blows, 

 they continue without Water six Days ; but not so long in a 

 South Wind. Yet in Winter-time they cannot endure the 

 same Exposure in a small Quantity of Water ; nor if it be 

 muddy ; and therefore about the rising of the Star Virgilise 

 they are most abundantly taken, because the Rivers about 

 that Time are the most muddy. Their Feeding is by Night. 

 Of all Fish they alone do not float when dead. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

 Of taking them in the Lake JBenacus. 



THERE is a Lake in Italy called Benacus, in the Territory 

 of Verona, through which the River Mincius runneth : at 

 the Outlet of which every Year, about the Month of October, 



1 The Mursena has a fin passing along the back to the extremity of 

 the body, where it is united to the anal, and forms a caudal fin, as in the 

 Eel. It has gills, also, with a perfect organization concealed within the 

 integument ; but the aperture is obscure. Wern. Club. 



2 Raia pastinaca. LINN. Trygon P. Cuv. The Sting Ray or 

 Fireflair. Wern. Club. 



* Murcena anguilla. LINN. Anguilla vulgaris. Cuv. Wern. Club. 



