Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

XI. An account of the gymnotus electricus, or electrical eel. In a letter from Alexander Garden, M.D. F. R. S. to John Ellis, Esq. F. R. S

1775; Royal Society; Volume: 65; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1098/rstl.1775.0012

2053-9223

Alexander Garden,

Fish biology, ecology, and behavior

Sir, A few days since, I went to see some very curious fish, which were brought here about nine or ten weeks ago from Surinam; and I was both surprized and delighted to observe their strange shape, and experience their wonderful properties. I had before received some vague account of such a fish; but I always thought, that much of what I heard was fabulous. There are five of these fishes now here, of different sizes, from two feet in length to three feet eight inches. The following description was made out from the longest and largest. It might have been much more accurate, if there had been a possibility of handling the fish, and examining it leisurely; or if I could have had a dead specimen, as many things relating to the internal and external structure could in that case have been more exactly ascertained.