LIBER IX · CAPUT 21
EELS
Latine · Mayhoff 1906
Anguillae octonis vivunt annis. durant et sine aqua, quinis et senis diebus aquilone spirante, austro pau- cioribus.... ant hieme, eadem in exigua aqua non tolerant neque in turbida. ideo circa vergilias maxime capiuntur fluminibus tum praecipue turbidis. pascuntur noctibus. exanimes piscium solae non fluitant.
English · Bostock & Riley 1855–57
Eels live eight years; they are able to survive out of water as much as six days, when a north-east wind blows; but when the south wind prevails, not so many. In winter, they cannot live if they are in very shallow water, nor yet if the water is troubled. Hence it is that they are taken more especially about the rising of the Vergiliæ, when the rivers are mostly in a turbid state. These animals seek their food at night; they are the only fish the bodies of which, when dead, do not float upon the surface.