NATURAL HISTORY. 



453 



it until one hundred men had been pulling at the rope for 

 nearly the whole of the day, that they succeeded in dragging 

 it on shore. Even then it made such violent strokes with its 

 saw, that they were forced to fasten strong guy ropes to prevent 

 it from cutting them to pieces. It was finally disabled by a 

 Spaniard, who cut through the joint of the tail. 



Family V. Raida?. (Lat, Raia, a Skate or Ray.) 

 TORPEDO. (Lat. Cramp or numbness.) 



Scutata (Lat. shielded), the Torpedo. 



The TORPEDO may fairly be considered a British fish. It 

 affords a second instance of the electric power residing in a 

 fish. The organs that produce the electric shock are shown 

 externally by two elevations extending from the eyes about 

 half down the body.*' 



Although it has once or twice been caught on our coasts, 

 it is usually found in the Mediterranean, where its powers are 

 well known, and held in some awe. The shock that the 



* Those who would wish to examine the structure of this most singular organ, 

 are referred to the Museum of the College of Surgeons, where is a series of beautiful 

 \vax models, admirably illustrating the entire structures. 



