THE EE£. 
*57 
Division I. Of Apodal Fifes. 
Section XL 
/ Genus XV. fhe Eel. 
In forming this genus, nature feems to have made a nea? 
a Ppvoach to the reptile tribes ; like tliefe animals, the 
kody ; s long, flender, and flexible. Excepting the fmalX 
Pair of pefloral, it may be faid to have no fins ; for the 
'Wfal, anal and tail fins are united in one web, which 
Grounds a large portion of the body. The apertures to 
file giil s are fmall, and placed behind the pectoral fins 
*key are covered by ten branchioftegous rays. 
The eel differs from almoft every other fifli of that or- 
** er , of which it is placed at the top, fin the manner of 
lt3 generation. It is viviparous, and is impregnated in 
•ke fame manner which obtains among the cartilaginous 
tH bes. The ancients entertained very extravagant no- 
tl0ns concerning the generation of thefe animals. Arif 
ot le afferted, that they were neither male nor female, bad 
n ° OVa nor femen *. Hence it was believed that they 
Prung from the mud, or that the incruft ations feraped 
from 
fad. Hift, Animals, 
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