548 RAIID.E. 



and the south of Ireland ; but their peculiarities were either 

 unnoticed or unrecorded, and it is therefore doubtful to 

 which of our species they belonged. Some naturalists may 

 still consider that we have but one species, and that the 

 present fish is identical with that of Walsh and Pennant. 

 Montagu, unfortunately, did not describe or particularise either 

 of the two specimens he saw, but I think it may be con- 

 cluded that he would have done so had either of his examples 

 differed from the figure and description given by Pennant. 

 The New British Torpedo appears to vary in its colour from a 

 reddish brown to a dark greenish or bluish black ; it remains 

 to be shown whether the smooth uninterrupted margin of the 

 spiracles may be depended upon as a permanent specific 

 character. Excellent descriptions of the new Torpedo have 

 been given by Mr. Dillwyn and Mr. Thompson in the 

 volumes quoted, and a single specimen may decide the 

 question. 



The whole length of the fish from which the figure was 

 taken is twenty-six inches ; the greatest breadth fifteen inches 

 and a quarter ; the length to the posterior free margin of the 

 pectoral fins thirteen inches and a half; the base of the first 

 dorsal fin occupies the central line of the lower third portion 

 of the ventral fins ; the second dorsal fin is placed half-way 

 between the posterior edge of the first dorsal fin and the 

 commencement of the upper lobe of the tail ; the second 

 dorsal fin is of the same shape, but only half as large as the 

 first dorsal fin ; the upper and under lobes of the tail, form- 

 ing together the caudal fin, are nearly equal in size, and 

 somewhat triangular in shape ; the posterior free margin but 

 slightly concave in the centre ; the eyes small ; the spiracles 

 perfectly smooth at the edge, not in the least serrated, and 

 rather oval in shape than circular, but this form may have 

 been produced while the skin was drying ; teeth small, nu- 

 merous, and pointed, calculated for holding rather than for 



