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THE GYMNOTUS TRIBE. 



SOME of the species of Gymnotus inhabit the • 

 fresh waters, and others ]ive in the ocean. They 

 are all, except three, confined to the regions of the 

 New Continent. The head is furnished with la- 

 teral opercula ; and there are two tentacula on the 

 upper lip. The gill-membrane has five rays. The 

 body is compressed, and has a fin running along the 

 under parts. 



THE ELECTRICAL GYMNOTUS, OB EEL.* 



This most singular fish is peculiar to South Ame- 

 rica, where it is found only in the rocky parts of 

 rivers at a great distance from the sea. 



On a transient view it bears a great resemblance 

 both in shape and colour to the Common Eel. It 

 is from three to four feet in length, and in the 

 thickest part of its body ten or twelve inches in 

 circumference. The head is flat, and the mouth 

 wide, and destitute of teeth. A fin about two 

 inches deep extends from the point of its tail to 

 within six inches of the head ; and, where it joins 

 the bodv, this fin is almost an inch thick. Across 



* Synonyms. — Gymnotus electricus. Linn.— Cold Eel. Smith. 

 — Cramp-fish, Numbing Eel, by the Engli&h.-»Beave Aal, by the 

 Dutch. — Electric -Eel. Phil. Trans, 



