Humboldt m Electrical Eels^ cmd the method 
In less than five minutes two horses were drowned. The 
eel, being five feet long, and pressing itself against the belly of 
the horses, makes a discharge along the whole extent of its elec- 
tric organ. It attacks at once the heart, the intestines, and the 
jplexus coeliacus of the abdominal nerves. It is natural, that the 
effect felt by the horses should be more powerful than that pro- 
duced upon man by the touch of the same fish at only one of 
his extremities. The horses are probably not killed, but only 
stunned. They are drowned from the impossibility of rising 
amid the prolonged struggle between the other horses and the 
eels. 
We had little doubt, that the fishing would terminate by 
killing successively all the animals eng-aged ; but by degrees 
the impetuosity of this unequal combat diminished, and the 
wearied gymnoti dispersed. They require a long rest and 
abundant nourishment, to repair what they have lost of galva- 
nic force. The mules and horses appear less frightened ; dieir 
manes are no longer bristled, and their eyes express less dread. 
The gymnoti approach timidly the edge of the marsh, where 
they are taken by means of small harpoons fastened to long 
cords. When the cords are very dry, the Indians feel no shock 
in raising the fish into the air. In a few minutes we obtained 
five large eels, the greater part of which were but slightly wound- 
ed, Some were taken by the same means toward the evening. 
The temperature of the waters in which the gymnoti habitu- 
ally live, is about 86° of Fahrenheit. Their electric force, 
it is said, diminishes in colder waters. The gymnotus is the 
largest of electrical fishes. I measured some that were from five 
feet to five feet three inches long ; and the Indians assert, that 
they have seen them still longer. We found, that a fish of three 
feet ten inches long weighed twelve pounds. The transverse dia- 
meter of the body was three inches five lines. The gymnoti of 
Cano de Bera are of a fine olive-green colour. The under part 
of the head is yellow, mingled with red. Two rows of small 
yellow spots are placed symmetrically along the back, froni the 
head to the end of the tail. Every spot contains an excretory 
aperture. In consequence, the skin of the animal is constantly 
® The Indians assured us, that when the horses are made to run two days 
5U?pessiycly into the same pool, hone fire killed the second day. 
