446 NATURAL HISTORY. 



contradicting, having experienced the contrary effect." The 

 eel mentioned was a small one, only two feet long ; but one 

 that had arrived at its full growth would have given a very 

 much stronger shock. An English sailor was fairly knocked 

 down by a shock from one of these eels, nor did he recover his 

 senses for some time. It is said that the shock can pass up a 

 stick, and strike the person holding it. Mr. Bryant and a 

 companion were both struck while pouring off the water frcm 

 a tub in which an electric eel had been placed. 



Hurnboldt, in his " Views of Nature," gives a very animated 

 description of the method employed by the Indians to take 

 these formidable creatures a method equally ingenious and 

 cruel. Knowing from experience that the powers of the 

 gymnotus are not adequate to a constant volley of shocks, 

 they contrive that the shocks shall be expended on the horses 

 instead of themselves. 



Having found a pool containing electric eels, they force a 

 troop of wild horses to enter the pool. The disturbed eels 

 immediately attack the intruders, and destroy many of them 

 by repeated shocks ; but by constantly forcing fresh supplies 

 of horses to invade the pool, the powers of the gymnoti be- 

 come exhausted, and they are then dragged out with impunity. 



THE SHORT SUN-FISH. 



This order derives its name from the curious structure of the 

 jaws, which are fixed together in a very peculiar manner. 



The SHORT SuN-Fisii has been frequently taken in almost 

 all parts of our coasts. It is of a most singular shape, looking 

 as if three-fourths of a very large fish had been cut off, leaving 

 only the head and shoulders, something like a marine Baron 

 Munchausen's horse. 



It attains to a very large size, and has been known to weigh 

 three hundred pounds, its length being only four feet five 

 inches. 



. It lives mostly at the bottom of the sea, but frequently 

 rises to the surface, and lies, perhaps, asleep, floating with the 



