322 CHONDROPTERYGII. RAY FAMILY. 



Gen. CXVII. Torpedo. — The almost perfectly 

 circular disc formed by the body, and the short 

 thick tail, sufficiently distinguish this group, other- 

 wise so celebrated for the possession of powerful 

 electrical properties. 



(Sp. 232.) T. mdgaris. Common Torpedo, Cramp- 

 fish, or Electric Ray. The species of Torpedo are 

 pretty numerous, and a sufficiently careful compa- 

 rison of such as have occurred on our own coasts 

 has not been made with those of the Continent, to 

 enable us to speak with confidence as to their iden- 

 tity or difference. The present species has been 

 long known as occurring in the British seas, but it 

 is everywhere rare. According to Pennant it is 

 frequently seen at Torbay ; Col. Montagu mentions 

 two specimens, one taken at Torcross, the other, of 

 large size, off the coast of Tenby, in Wales ; it has 

 also been found on the coast of Cornwall, off Wey- 

 mouth, near Waterf )rd, and in some other places. It 

 varies from two to four feet in length, and is of a 

 cinereous brown colour above and white beneath. It 

 frequents deep water, and seems in its habits, which 

 are but imperfectly known, to resemble the other 

 large rays. It is sluggish and inactive, and is par- 

 tial to a muddy bottom, where it lies partly im- 

 bedded. Its food consists principally of fish, a 

 surmullet and plaice having been found in the 

 stomach, and these it is said to secure by stupifying 

 them by means of its galvanic apparatus. The lat- 

 ter occupies a considerable space on each side of the 

 body, and consists of irregular hexagons or penta- 



