29 1 Miscellaneous. 



T. marmnruta approaches it more nearly in form, but is less clumsy : 

 the spiracles are in all three represented as notched. Fleming (Brit. 

 Anim.) not having seen specimens, describes from other authors. 

 In the Phil. Trans, for 18:54 (p. 542.), Dr. Davy states, that the 

 Torj). marmorata, Risso, and T. Galvani, Risso, are identical — in this 

 memoir two Mediterranean species are described, of which this one 

 only approaches the specimen before me. Jenyns (p. 509.) consi- 

 ders die British species of Torpedo to be undetermined, as likewise 

 does Varrell, whose figure (vol. ii. p. 410.) we may therefore pre- 

 Bume has not been made from a native specimen. 



Of Dr. Jacob's Torpedo, which is a female, the entire length is 

 34, the greatest breadth 23 inches; breadth across the ventrals 9£ 

 inches. The body is rounder and forms a greater portion of the 

 whole than in Varrell 's figure (and still more so than in Willughby's, 

 which the author just mentioned considers the same as his) ; it is 

 19^ inches long from the anterior extremity to the part of the body 

 which is on a line with the extremity of the pectorals, and 14-^ 

 inches thence to the end of the caudal fin. The first dorsal fin, 

 which is 3 inches in height, extends for 2 inches along the trunk of 

 the tail, and terminates nearly on the same plane with the ventrals : 

 the second dorsal fin originates about 1^ inch behind the first ; it is 

 2|- inches in height, occupies If inch of the tail, and extends within 

 li inch of the origin of the caudal fin — it thus nearly occupies the 

 portion between the ventral and caudal fins : C. fin 5 inches in 

 length, upper lobe the larger. Eyes minute, ^ inch long and about 

 the same broad, 2 inches 10 lines from the anterior edge of the 

 body, 2 in. 4 lines apart ; spiracle opening, circular or without 

 tooth-like processes ; a fimbriated process about an inch within the 

 margin : several rows of small sharp teeth ; vent about the middle 

 of body within the ventral fins. Colour of the entire upper surface 

 uniform reddish-grey, with obscure and small markings of a darker 

 shade ; a single dark spot j inch in diameter on the body a little 

 to the left of the middle ; under side rich chalk- white prettily bor- 

 dered with reddish gray, which colour forms a band about an inch 

 in breadth round the pectorals, but narrower on the ventrals, and 

 still more so on the tail. 



To recapitulate — in all the works noticed in this communica- 

 tion, and perhaps unnecessarily so, the only figures of the Torpedo 

 corresponding exactly in proportion with my specimen are Walsh's*, 



* I do not recollect to have seen it anywhere satisfactorily stated, whether 

 individuals of the same species differ much in general outline, or whether 

 the sexes ever vary much in this respect — colour is admitted to be no cha- 

 racter. See in particular Dr. Davy, Phil. Trans. 1. c. 



