THE EEL. 159 



the ferpent tribe, in a torpid (late daring winter. Some 

 have been known to take {belter under a rick of hay in 

 fevere weatlier, and even there, have all perifhed fi-om 

 excefo of cold *. Though fond of hiding themfeives ia 

 the mud, they are incapable of living in thick turbid 

 water ; and hence, v/hen a river is diflurbed by a flood, 

 they are frequently fuffocafed by the impurity of the 

 ftream f . 



I^he Com??ion Eel %» 



The external figure cf this fifh is too well known to 

 require a minute defcription. The body is long, round, 

 and tapering, comprelTed towards the tail, and above of a 

 blue colour, tending to yellow on the belly. The river 

 eel has no fcales, the body being all over lubricated with 

 a vifcous fubflance, ferving at once to prote£l the animal 

 from cold, and external injury. Tiiofe which are fed in 

 pure running water, are brighter in their coloui, as well 

 as more delicate in their flefh §. 



The irides are white, and near the eyes, are feen the 

 orifices of fmell. The branchiae are four jn number, 

 covered with a ikin, and extremely fmall •. the aperture 

 externally comaiunicating with them, is fo minute, that 

 it occafions their fuffocation in muddy water, and is pro- 

 bably the caufe why they are capable of living fo long 

 in the open air If, 



There 



* Albertus apud Geliier, page 45. f Willough. page no. 



t Murxna Anguilla, Lia- Syft. Anguilla Plinii, lib, ix. 



5 Idem ibidem. [I Ronielet.de pifcib.lib. I. cap. 9, 



