C 68] 
and a Number of feeming Ova iflued from them ; 
but we foon found, that thcfe were really live Eels, 
included in their proper Membranes, though of dif- 
ferent Degrees of Maturity. Some mov’d but (lowly 
their Head and Tail, others coil’d and uncoil’d them- 
felves pretty briskly ; and indeed it was pleafant to 
behold the moft mature making many Efforts to dis- 
engage themfelves from their inveloping Membranes, 
frequently varying their Pofition, being fometimes 
fpiral, then like a Figure of 8, till at laft they were 
intirely at Liberty, and fwam about like the Parent 
Eel. 
By this it appears, that what I at firft took for the 
Inteftine, we now found to be the Uterus , which 
ihews, in the large Eels, to be full of dark Spots, and 
are the young Eels. Thefe dark Spots are alfo obferve* 
able in the young ones, as foon as deliver’d from their 
Parent. 
To be fure of this Experiment, I repeated the Ope- 
ration on Numbers of thefe Eels in Prefence of Dr. 
"Parfons, and feveral other Gentlemen, and always 
found young ones ; fome fo mature {viz. thofe to- 
wards the Middle of the Parent) as to difengage 
themfelves before I could get them under the Micro- 
fcope. 
In cutting one of thefe Eels, I happen’d to divide 
a young one exa&Iy in two; but, notwithftanding 
the globular Appearances, as in the Parent, there iflued 
nothing from the wounded Extremity of either Part ; 
which muft be owing to the Immaturity of the young 
ones. 
From this it is plain, that thefe Eels are viviparous ; 
and confequently cannot favour the common Opinion 
**• among 
