STRUCTURE OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS. 
343 
Fishes which possess them, no definite information can be 
given. It is doubtful to what extent they are employed in 
obtaining food; since it is known that the Gymnotus eats 
very few of the fishes which it kills by its discharge ; and 
that Torpedos kept 
in captivity do not 
seem disposed to ex¬ 
ercise their powers 
on small fishes placed 
in the water with 
them. The chief use 
of their electrical 
power appears to be, 
to serve as a means 
of defence against 
their enemies. 
422. The electric 
organs of the Torpedo 
(fig. 178) are of flat- nl 
tened shape, and 
occupy the front and 
sides of the body, 
forming two large 
masses, which ex¬ 
tend backwards and 
outwards from each 
side of the head. 
They are composed 
of two layers of mem¬ 
brane, the space be¬ 
tween which is di¬ 
vided by vertical 
Fig. 178.— Electric Apparatus of Torpedo. 
partitions into hex- <?, brain ; me, spinal cord; o, eye and optic nerve; e, 
agonal cells e like elec tric organs ; np, pneumogastric nerve, supplying 
.p ? ? electric organs ; nl, lateral nerve; n, spinal nerves. 
those ot a honey¬ 
comb, the ends of which are directed towards the two sur- 
• faces of the body. These cells—which are filled with a whitish 
soft pulp, somewhat resembling the substance of the brain, 
but containing more water—-are again subdivided horizontally 
by little membranous partitions; and all these partitions are 
profusely supplied with vessels and nerves.—The electrical 
