168 Description of a new Species of Torpedo. 
inches and a quarter long and five inches high, is situated at the 
posterior portion of the pectorals, one half of its base being poste- 
rior to those fins. The second dorsal is two inches long, and two 
inches and three quarters high; it is two and a half inches back 
of the first dorsal, and three inches anterior to the commencement 
of the upper lobe of the caudal fin. The ventral fins are ten 
inches long, and five and a half inches wide. ‘The anus is large, 
and is situated beneath the middle of the ventrals. ‘The caudal 
fin is nearly triangular ; its lower portion is the larger: the depth 
of this fin at its posteror extremity when expanded is eleven inch- 
es; its posterior margin is straight. The globe of the eye, which 
seicireiahor, is an inch and a quarter in diameter: the cornea is 
oval ; its longest diameter is one half of an inch, and is directed 
obliquely outwards; its shortest diameter is three eighths of an 
inch. The spiracles are oval, and smooth at their edge; they 
are one and a quarter inch in their largest diameter, and one inch 
in their shortest diameter, and are directed outwards and a little 
forwards. On the anterior and inner surface of the spiracles, just 
within the orifice, is a plaited membrane, the folds of which re- 
semble somewhat the nasal septa; the longest of these folds are 
next to the median line, and they gradually diminish in length 
as they recede from it. The mouth when closed, measures six 
inches across from the angles, and when opened to its widest ex- 
tent, it measures from the middle of the upper to the middle of 
the bowie jaw five inches. The teeth are numerous, small and 
sharp—broad at their bases, and pointed at their extremities like 
spines. When the fish is placed upon its under side, and the 
anterior extremity of the disk is turned backwards, the nostrils are 
observed about three inches beneath its edge: they are covered 
above by amembranous prolongation, formed by a fold of the skin 
which arises from their exterior angle and is continued to the me- 
dian line ; the free edge of this fold is five eighths of an inch wide 
at its greatest width. A second fold commences at their outer 
upper angle, and passes downwards and inwards to the middle of 
the lower edge of the aperture. A third fold commences near the 
middle of the second, and is directed outwards and a little down- 
wards. The nasal cavity is divided by a horizontal plate into 
two portions, and at right angles to this proceed numerous small 
‘Septa going to the upper and lower margin of the nostrils. The 
color of the whole upper surface of this species, is a dark brown 
