OF FISHES. 
231 
ELECTRICAL EEL. 
The Electrical Eel is a native of North 
America, and, like the torpedo, possesses 
very extraordinary qualities. It is about 
three feet long, and the largest part of the 
body is twelve inches in circumference. It 
has a large, broad, flat head; the back is of 
a dark brown colour, with grey sides, a nil 
whitish belly ; the eyes, which arc small, 
are. of a bluish colour; it has no scales. 
The Electrical Eel bears some resemblance 
to the common eel in its general appearance ; 
but it is endowed with the power of inflicting 
a very painful shock, somewhat similar to 
that which is excited by an electrical ma- 
chine. It was first discovered by Dr. Ritcher. 
