T^E SEA SERPENi*. l6j 



fillies, whofe hlftory is altogether unknown, we forbear 

 to enumerate them, and to tire the reader vvirh the bar- 

 ren and uninftrudlive difcription of their forms *. Onel 

 fpecies, however, of the eel tribe deferves our notice, be- 

 caufe it has been found to pofTefs the fame narcotic 

 powers as the torpedo; it is the gymnotus eleftricus of 

 LmnceuSf called by the Englijh of Jai7iaica^ the torpori- 

 fic eel : This lingular fifli is only found in the interior 

 parts of South .America, particularly in the lakes of Suri^ 

 nam, from whence it has been tranfported to '^aviaica. 

 Different attempts have been made to introduce it into 

 Europe, but without fuccefs. If touched with the hand, 

 it communicates a flrong fliock to the arm ; and the fame 

 effect is produced by applying It to a metallic rod, where- 

 as it is harmlefs when touched with a piece of wood. 

 From thefe experiments It appears certain, that the mat- 

 ter difcharged by the torporific eel, partakes of the na- 

 ture of the eleftric fluid. The tribe of gymnoti in which 

 Linnaeus places this animal, comprehends five different 

 fpecies ; of the eels, properly fo called, he enumerates 

 only fcven kinds f . 



* Vide RondcL et Aldrovand. \ Vide Syft, N«t, 



