THE ELECTRIC EEL, 483 
The reproduction of the Fel has long been a subject of discussion, some 
een thinking that the young are produced ina living state, and others 
olding that they are hatched from eggs. This question has, however, been 
set at rest by that universal revealer, the achromatic microscope, which has 
shown that the masses of oily-looking substance generally called fat are really 
the aggregated clusters of eggs, and that these objects, minute though they 
may be, not so large as the dot over the letter z, are quite perfect, and under 
the microscope are seen to be genuine eggs. 
THE well-known CONGER EEL is a marine species, very common in our 
‘ seas, and being most usually 
» found on the rocky portion 
of the coast. 
This useful fish has, of 
late years, come into more 
general use than formerly, 
and its good qualities are 
more appreciated. The 
flesh, though not very palat- 
able if dressed unskilfully, is 
now held in some estimation, and for the manufacture of soup is thought to 
be almost unrivalled. The fishermen can now always obtain a ready sale for 
the Congers ; and those which are not purchased for the table are mostly 
bought up and made into isinglass. one, 
The colour of the Conger is pale brown above and greyish white below. 
It often attains to a very great size, measuring ten feet in length and 
weighing more than 100 lbs. 
The ELLecrric EEL is even more remarkable for its capability of 
delivering powerlul electric shocks than the torpedo, but as it is never found 
in the British seas it is not so well known as that fish. 
THE Electric Eel is a native of Southern America, and inhabits the rivers 
of that warm and verdant country, The o:gans which enable it to produce 
such wonderful effects are double, and lie along the body, the one upon the 
other. 
In the native country of these fishes they are captured by an ingenious 
cipiieiai but somewhat cruel process. 
if i 2 A number of wild horses are 
lV 
CONGER. —-(Conger vulgaris.) 
driven to the spot and urged 
into the water. The alarm- 
ed Gymnoti, finding their 
domains thus invaded, call 
forth all the terrors of their 
invisible artillery to repel 
the intruders, and discharge 
their pent-up  lightnings 
with fearful rapidity and 
ALD d force. Gliding under the 
ELECTRIC EEL.—(Gymnotus electricus.) bellies of the frightened 
horses, they press them- 
s Ives against their bodies, as if to economize all the electrical fluid, and by 
shock after shock generally succeed in drowning several of the poor quad- 
rupeds. 
aes however, are but of slight value in that country, hardly, indeed, so 
. much valued as pigeons in England, and as fast as they emerge from the 
water in frantic terror, are driven back among their dread eremies. Presently 
the shocks become less powerful, for the Gymnotus soon exhausts it s.ure of 
: 112 
