THE EEL, ij7 



Division I. Of Jpodal FiJJ.'esi 



Section If, 



G-Nus XV. 1'he Et'L 



In forming this genus, nature feems tohavematle a neas 

 approach to the reptile tribes ; like thefe animals, the 

 body is long, llender, and flexible. Excepting the fmall 

 pair of perioral, it may be faid to have no fins ; for the 

 dorfal, anal and tail fms are united in one web, which 

 furrounds a large portion of the body. The apertures to 

 tlie gills are fmall, and placed behind the pecloral fins : 

 they are covered by ten branchioftegous rays. 



The eel differs from almoU every other fifli of that or- 

 der, of which it is placed at the top, in the manner of 

 its generation. It is viviparous, and is impregnated ill 

 the fame manner which obtains among the cartilaginous 

 tribes. Tlie ancients entertained very extravagant no- 

 tions concerning the generation of thefe animals. Arif- 

 totle afTerted, that they were neither male nor female, had. 

 mo ova nor femen *. Hence it was believed that they 

 fprung ffom the mud, or that the incruflations fcraped 



' Fid; Kift, Animals, 



