THE FAMILY OF EELS. 
3U 
portion of this roe was placed in a microscope, when there 
were distinguished a large number of globular grains, some of 
which, according to the notes then made, “were a hundred 
times larger than others; from whence the conclusion is that 
some are approaching to maturity, and that their exclusion is 
in succession;” a fact rendered certain by repeated observation. 
It is added: — “It is impossible to imagine that all these 
could ever have been hatched within the body, and still less 
without the circumstance having been long since ascertained. 
The small size of the orifice of egress is also a proof of the 
same thing.” 
When this roe was burned in the flame of a candle it 
gave out a strong and peculiar smell, which resembled that of 
the roe of a Ling or other fish when roasted, in proof of 
which it was submitted to the judgment of one who was 
well acquainted with such a smell, but who was not aware of 
the object of inquiry; and the opinion of its nature was 
decisive. The examination of this subject extended over- 
several years from 1828, but the subject was further traced 
by my late son, Richard Quiller Couch, while residing at 
Penzance, the particulars of which were communicated to the 
“Zoologist,” 1847, p. 1830. “Last summer,” he observes, “I took 
a quantity of mud from a spot much frequented by Eels, and 
carefully examined it to see if there were any (ova) in it; 
and, after testing several specimens without success, I was at 
last gratified by observing the Eels, small and transparent, 
lying on the surface almost motionless. They rapidly grew, 
and in ten days acquired strength and size to swim about.” 
It seems certain that when there is no hindrance these 
fish will choose the sea, in harbours chiefly, in which to shed 
their spawn, where it is scattered loosely in the sand or soil, 
and from whence it may be dislodged and washed into deeper' 
water without injury; but there is proof also that it is 
sometimes deposited at the bottom of a stream of fresh water; 
and at a meeting of the British Association for Science a 
gentleman mentioned as within his own knowledge, that on 
the last day of August a considerable number of young Eels 
were seen to rise up through a small opening in the sand 
at the bottom of a small stream — the Ravensbourne; which 
fact was further confirmed by the observation of another 
