The Humming Bird. 45 



six feet, and to be able to give a sliock strong enough to stun 

 a horse. However that may be, I had ample opportunities of 

 observing two of these Hsh at the Insect House, Zoological 

 Gardens, in 1885. They were only medium sized specimens, 

 but they could give a somewhat severe shock, as I have 

 myself experienced, causing a most unpleasant sensation and 

 momentarily paralyzing the arm sometimes, as they were 

 apparently able to regulate the strength of the shock. Nor is 

 it necessary to touch them in order to receive a shock, as they 

 could send a current of electricity through the w^ater, though 

 I was unable to ascertain to what distance. They also make 

 use of their wonderful power to obtain their food, which 

 consists of small fish, &c. They have very small eyes, and 

 are bv no means active, therefore thev would soon starve 

 were it not for the aid of their electrical apparatus. The two 

 specimens referred to used to have small roach, carp, and 

 other fish for their food, which, of course, were given them 

 alive. As soon as the eels became a-ware of the presence of 

 their prey, they would send several electric currents through 

 the water, which would cause the fish to fioat, dead or stunned, 

 upon the surface. The eels would then feel about with their 

 mouths, their eyesight being, as I have said, very poor. 

 As soon as they felt a fish they would seize it voraciously 

 and sw^allow it whole. I noticed an interesting circumstance 

 one day, which shewed that they must possess a certain amount 

 of reasoning power. A small perch had inadvertently been 

 given them among the other fish, and when one of the eels 

 seized it, he turned it round so as to swallow it head foremost; 

 had he tried to dispose of it tail first, the fins, which are very 

 spiny in the perch, would have stuck in his throat and choked 

 him. The most remarkable point about this incident was 

 that they never troubled how they swallowed the carp, roach, 

 etc. I do not think they gave very strong shocks as a rule 

 while feeding, as on several occasions I took apparently dead 

 fish out of the water, and on putting them into a bowl of fresh 

 water they gradually came too and swam about as lively as 

 ever. I saw these two eels only last June ali^'e and well, 

 and with a notice over their tank intimating that visitors who 

 pay one shilling to the keeper are entitled to receive an 

 electric shock from these extraordinary fish. 



But it is amonor insects that we find the most wonderful 

 instances of protection and disguise against their foes. 

 Their enemies are so numerous, including mammals, birds, 

 reptiles^ fishes, and even the stronger members of their own 



