THE EEL. 
IjS 
from their bodies by the (louts, received animation 
liondcletius raflily adopted this opinion, from having ob» 
ferved that they were generated in pools, from which all 
the mud and water had been for a while extra&ed*. 
This was a phenomenon, for which they could in no 
other way account, than by the l'pontaneous generation 
of eels : But later obfervations have afcertaincd, that 
ponds are often fupplifed with thefe fifh, in the fame man- 
ner that vegetation is i'pread, by tranfporting the feeds ot 
plants. 1 he heren, or other water fowl, may drop the 
eel, when carrying it to its young, or the young may fc c 
ejected unhurt from its bowels, as the feeds of plants 
are voided by land birds, without being injured by the 
operation of the ftomach. 
In their habitation, the fillies of this genes are fliH 
more lingular, than in their manner of propagating their 
young. They can refide either in fait or frefh water f i 
and what is dill more furpriling, they are in fome mea - 
lure independent of either ; for they fometimes leave their 
native element, and wander, during night, along the 
dewy meadows, not only for a change of habitation, bu f - 
in queft of prey J. Of thefe nightly excurfions, the lnaii 
is commonly the victim, being devoured by the eel as 
pafles along. 
There is no animal more vivacious than the eel ; when 
drawn from the water, it will furvive blows that would 
have killed an animal ten times its fixe ; and even after 
it is cut afunder, the different parts are feen to move 
It is, however, fo eafily ddlroyed by cold, that to avoid 
it, it beds itfelf deep among the mud, and continues, lik e 
the 
* lie pifcibu3. 
| Brit.Zool, dab iv. gep. it, 
f Rondelct. de Pifcilms. 199' 
§ Idem ibidenj. 
