100 
ANIMAL CURIOSITIES 
Mr. Frank Buckland also tells us that “ eels 
are very sensitive to changes in the weather, 
and they are generally on the move when 
thunder is about, or, in other words, when 
the atmosphere is charged with electricity.” 
He further records the fact that in January, 
1851, during a spell of very severe weather, 
thousands of conger-eels were seen floating 
on the sea in a certain locality, no less than 
eighty tons of the fish being captured in a 
very short time. Although they were quite 
lively and were swimming about on the surface 
of the water, yet, curiously enough, they had 
not the power to escape from their captors 
owing to the fact that the intense cold had 
distended their air-vessels to such an extent 
as to close the valvular openings, thereby 
rendering the fish so buoyant that they were 
incapable of swimming downwards. 
Rainy weather, although regarded with dis¬ 
favour by some creatures, is, on the other 
hand, greatly appreciated by others, and those 
of us who cultivate gardens will know how 
snails come forth from their hiding-places after 
a shower. In the winter months, however, 
they bury themselves beneath the earth, seal¬ 
ing themselves up within their shells by 
secreting a membrane-like shield across the 
base, the structure being composed of slime 
