Mrs. SPRAT blushed like a full-blown peony as JACK manfully and courageously saluted her upon one rosy cheek, in the presence of the assembled guests, and then, to cover her confusion, she giggled and shook hands energetically with the company, telling JACK to "hold up his head and do the same, for it was com eel fut, and he must try to be fashionable at his own wedding.

THE BODIES OF FISHES are mostly covered with a kind of horny scales; but some are almost entirely without them, or have them so minute as to be almost invisible; as is the case with the eel.

Some kinds, as the rays, have no ribs; whilst others, as the sturgeon and eel, have very short ones.

They are in general oviparous, or egg-producing; but there are a few, such as the eel and the blenny, which are viviparous, or produce their young alive.

The eel-pout and the lotas's liver were the favourite fish dishes of the Roman epicures; whilst the red mullet was esteemed as one of the most delicate fishes that could be brought to the table.

[Illustration: THE EEL.]

THE EEL TRIBE.The Apodal, or bony-gilled and ventral-finned fish, of which the eel forms the first Linnaean tribe, in their general aspect and manners, approach, in some instances, very nearly to serpents.

THE EEL TRIBE.The Apodal, or bony-gilled and ventral-finned fish, of which the eel forms the first Linnaean tribe, in their general aspect and manners, approach, in some instances, very nearly to serpents.

This rambling disposition in the eel has been long known to naturalists, and, from the following lines, it seems to have been known to the ancients:

"Thus the mail'd tortoise, and the wand'ring; eel, Oft to the neighbouring beach will silent steal.

" EEL PIE.

COLLARED EEL. 254.

INGREDIENTS.1 large eel; pepper and salt to taste; 2 blades of mace, 2 cloves, a little allspice very finely pounded, 6 leaves of sage, and a small bunch of herbs minced very small.

Bone the eel and skin it; split it, and sprinkle it over with the ingredients, taking care that the spices are very finely pounded, and the herbs chopped very small.

It may either be served whole or cut in slices; and when cold, the eel should be kept in the liquor it was boiled in, but with a little more vinegar put to it.

The THICK part of the EEL is reckoned the best; and this holds good of all flat fish.

[G-8] Badcock, in using the term 'index-scholar,' was referring no doubt to Pope's lines: 'How Index-learning turns no student pale, Yet holds the eel of science by the tail.' Dunciad, i. 279.

'Very, sir, considering who made him,' answered the Cornishman, touching his hat, and then thrusting his nose deeper than ever into the eel-basket.

so you ought not to condescend to take my word for anything which you can look into yourself;' with which sound piece of common-sense Tregarva returned busily to his eel-lines.

"A great many," said he, "and those very unhospitable, and of a most horrible appearance: towards the tail, on the western parts of the wood, live the Tarichanes, {104a} a people with eel's eyes, and faces like crabs, bold, warlike, and that live upon raw flesh.

If they will only note the difference between long and short, the eel of Ocean's bottom may feel on his slippery skin the smooth messages of our Presidents, and the catfish, in his darkness, look fearless on the secrets of a Queen.

About one half of them, however, have trout and eel.

EDWIN, the comedian, iv. 381, n. 1. EEL, iii. 381.

The eel pie murders, by David Frome, pseud.

Electric eel calling; a record of an artist's association with a scientific expedition.