“ SUN-SPEARING.” 148 
stems there is at present an eel of great beauty and 
volume coiled in a way which anieel alone, or per- 
haps a tree serpent, could accomplish. Most persons, 
I presume, will have seen the conventional repre- 
sentation of Mercury’s wand, with a snake twined 
round it. I can recollect no better emblem of the 
appearance of the eel in his present condition. If 
asked what he is doing there, I must candidly own I 
am not certain on that point. I can only answer for 
the fact of having met him frequently in the same 
position, and taken him off his perch with my spear. 
Tf conjecture is admissible in the case, I would be 
inclined to say that he is simply feeding on small 
water-shells and insects that adhere to the under 
surface of the leaves of these plants ; and also perhaps 
on a gelatinous member of the alge family found 
attached to these and other acquatic vegetables, and 
which the rustic botanists call “eel-bite”’ I must, 
however, leave the subject an open question for future 
investigation, and request the young spearsman, who 
has now had sufficient elementary instruction for the 
purpose, to place, by a careful stroke, the object of 
discussion amongst the goods and chattels of our 
cargo. Diver will be happy to lend a tooth in disen- 
gaging him from the spear. 
E, N. M. 
