THE CONGER EEL. 109 



rivers of almost every country ; yet it is scarcely ever found in 

 the Danube, although it abounds in the lakes and rivers in Up- 

 per Austria. It is a singular fish in regard to many particulars 

 of its natural history, and in some respects bears a great resem- 

 blance to the serpent tribe. 



During the night, eels frequently quit the water, and wander 

 over the meadows in quest of snails, frogs, and other small rep- 

 tiles ; and sometimes roam to other ponds or rivers, for change 

 of habitation. 



Mr. Anderson, in his Philosophical Transactions, says, that 

 while he was one day viewing the flood-gates belonging to the 

 water-works of Norwich, he perceived a great number of eels 

 sliding up them, and up the adjacent parts, to the height of rive 

 or six feet above the surface of the water. Many of the posts 

 were perfectly smooth and dry ; yet the eels ascended with the 

 utmost facility, first thrusting their heads and about half their 

 bodies out of the water, and, after holding them against the 

 wood-work for some time, mounting upward with as much ap- 

 parent ease as if they had been sliding on level ground. 



When kept in ponds, eels have been known to commit serious 

 depredations among young ducks. Sir J. Hawkins, having 

 missed several young ducks from a canal near his house at 

 Twickenham, caused it to be drained, when great numbers of 

 large eels were found, whose stomachs contained the undigested 

 heads and parts of the bodies of the victims. 



The eel is impatient of cold, and in winter buries itself deep 

 in the mud, where, like the snake, it lies in a state of torpidity. 

 No other fish is capable of living so long out of water ; nor is 

 any other so tenacious of life, as the parts will move for a long 

 time after it is flayed and cut into small pieces. All these are 

 characteristics that bear very great resemblance to those of the 

 serpent tribe. The eel is also extremely voracious, and destruc- 

 tive to the young fry of fishes. 



Eels vary much in their colours, from a sooty hue to a light 

 olive green. They are with most people a favourite dish ; but 

 those which are taken in clear running water are by far the best 

 tasted. The ancient Romans held this fish in very little esteem, 

 probably on account of its similarity to the snake ; and some 

 people among us have the same prejudice against it. The Sy- 

 barites, who were famous for their attachment to the luxuries 

 of the table, were so extravagantly fond of eels, that the persons 

 who sold them were exempted from the payment of tribute. 



THE CONGER EEL 



Differs in many respects from the common eel, as it lives in 

 the ocean, or at the mouth of great rivers, and grows to an 



K 



