Our stay here will depend on the weather.  At present it is perfect.  I do not suppose we shall leave before 7th or 8th of September, and we shall get home by easy stages not much before the end of the month.

Ever yours very faithfully,

T.H.  Huxley.

Madder than ever on Gentians.

[The following is in reply to Sir E. Frankland’s inquiries with reference to the reported presence of fish in the reservoirs of one of the water-companies.]

Hotel Righi Vaudois, Glion, September 16, 1887.

We left Arolla about ten days ago, and after staying a day at St. Maurice in consequence of my wife’s indisposition, came on here where your letter just received has followed me.  I am happy to say I am quite set up again, and as I can manage my 1500 or 2000 feet as well as ever, I may be pretty clear that my pleurisy has not left my lung sticking anywhere.

I will take your inquiries seriatim. (1) The faith of your small boyhood is justified.  Eels do wander overland, especially in the wet stormy nights they prefer for migration.  But so far as I know this is the habit only of good-sized, downwardly-moving eels.  I am not aware that the minute fry take to the land on their journey upwards.

(2) Male eels are now well known.  I have gone over the evidence myself and examined many.  But the reproductive organs of both sexes remain undeveloped in fresh water—­just the contrary of salmon, in which they remain undeveloped in salt water.

(3) So far as I know, no eel with fully-developed reproductive organs has yet been seen.  Their matrimonial operations go on in the sea where they spend their honeymoon, and we only know the result in the shape of the myriads of thread-like eel-lets, which migrate up in the well-known “eel-fare.”

(4) On general principles of eel-life I think it is possible that the Inspector’s theory may be correct.  But your story about the roach is a poser.  They certainly do not take to walking abroad.  It reminds me of the story of the Irish milk-woman who was confronted with a stickleback found in the milk.  “Sure, then, it must have been bad for the poor cow when that came through her teat.”

Surely the Inspector cannot have overlooked such a crucial fact as the presence of other fish in the reservoirs?

We shall be here another week, and then move slowly back to London.  I am loth to leave this place, which is very beautiful with splendid air and charming walks in all directions—­two or three thousand feet up if you like.

Hotel Righi Vaudois, Glion, Switzerland, September 16, 1887.

My dear Donnelly,

We left Arolla for this place ten days ago, but my wife fell ill, and we had to stay a day at St. Maurice.  She has been more or less out of sorts ever since until to-day.  However, I hope now she is all right again.

This is a very charming place at the east end of the Lake of Geneva—­1500 feet above the lake—­and you can walk 3000 feet higher up if you like.