THE SEA SERPENT 
163 
; iiiies, whole liiftory is altogether unknown, we forbear 
to enumerate them, and to tire the reader wirli the bar- 
ren and uninftrudive difcription of their forms *. One 
fpecies, however, of the eel tribe deferves our notice, be- 
caufe it has been found to poffefs the fame narcotic 
powers as the torpedo; it is the gymnotus ele&ricus of 
Zititueus, called by the Engliftj of Jamaica , the torpori- 
fic eel : This lingular fifh is only found in the interior 
parts of South America , particularly in the lakes of SurU 
nam, from whence it has been tranfported to Jamaica* 
Different attempts have been made to introduce it into 
Europe, but without fuccefs. If touched with the hand, 
11 communicates a flrong {hock to the arm ; and the fame 
effed is produced by applying it to a metallic rod, where- 
as it is harmlefs when touched with a piece of wood* 
from thefe experiments it appears certain, that the mat- 
ter difcharged by the torporific eel, partakes of the na- 
ture of the eledric fluid. The tribe of gymnoti in which 
Unnctus places this animal, comprehends five different 
Species ; of the eels, properly fo called, he enumerates 
only feven kinds f . 
* Vide Rondel, ct Aldrovand. 
f Vide Syfti N*h 
