366 The Apodes, or Eel-like Fishes 
falls will be astonished at the enormous numbers of young 
eels crawling over the slippery rocks and squirming in the 
seething whirlpools. An estimate of hundreds of wagon-loads, 
as seen in the course of the perilous journey referred to, would 
hardly be considered excessive by those who have visited the 
spot at a suitable season of the year.’’ “At other times large 
eels may be seen on their way down-stream, although natu- 
rally they are not as conspicuous then as are the hosts of the 
young on their way up-stream. Nevertheless it is now a well- 
assured fact that the eels are catadromous, that is, that the 
Fic. 270.—Common Eel, Anguilla chrisypa Rafinesque. Holyoke, Mass. 
old descend the watercourses to the salt water to spawn, and 
the young, at least of the female sex, ascend them to enjoy life 
in the fresh water.’’ 
The Food of the Eel.—Eels are among the most voracious 
of all fishes. They devour dead flesh and they will attack any 
fish small enough for them to bite. They are among the swiftest 
of fishes. They work largely at night, and devour spawn as weil 
as grown fishes. 
‘On their hunting excursions they overturn huge and small 
stones alike, working for hours if necessary, beneath which they 
find species of shrimp and crayfish, of which they are exceed- 
ingly fond. Of shrimps they devour vast numbe:s. Their noses 
are poked into every imaginable hole in their search for food, to 
the terror of innumerable small fishes. 
Larva of the Eel.—-The translucent band-shaped larva of 
the common eel has been very recently identified and described 
by Dr. Eigenmann. It is probable that all true eels, Enchely- 
