328 THE REASON WHY .* 



" Genius, piercing as the electric flame, 

 When waked in one, in others wakes the same." SCOTT. 



of the first ray in the dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins, which are sometimes spir.ous. 

 The ventral fins are sometimes wanting ; when present, they are always abdominal 

 in position. The skin is sometimes naked, at other times more or less covered with 

 oony plates; in most cases, however, it is thickly clad with scales. The air 

 bladder is connected with the pharynx by a sort of duct. The sub-order includes 

 most of the important fishes that are sought for as food by man, and one species 

 which possesses electrical powers. 



1048. fHiy lias the gymnotus the power of communicating 

 electric shocks ? 



For the purpose of defending itself from enemies, and also to 

 benumb its prey, which is generally swifter in motion than the 

 eel, until the latter can overtake it. 



1049. That these are the reasons why this animal is endowed with this wonderful 

 power there can be no doubt, since the uses made of the electric force by the eel 

 have been well ascertained. 



The electric eel is not only one of the most extraordinary of fishes, but it is one of 

 the most wonderful productions of living nature. And yet it is no more wonderful 

 than the serpent which fascinates it prey; than the bird which baits with insects 

 the branches of shrubs, in order to attract small birds thither ; than the fish which 

 emits jets of water to knock down flies ; or the spider which constructs a beautiful 

 snare, and waits silently and motionless the entrapment of its victim. 



These various means to the same end, with which different animals are endowed, 

 illustrate the boundless resources of the Creative Wisdom. 



The apparatus in which the electric power is lodged is a very singular one, 

 consisting of four organs, which are placed longitudinally in the tail of the fish. 

 The organic part of this singular apparatus consists of a countless assemblage of 

 cells, which have some analogy to the divisions of a galvanic battery. 



The nature of the shock transmitted appears to be galvanic or electrical. Nearly 

 the same substances are conductors and non-conductors of the shock, as are 

 conductors and non-conductors of common electricity. The eel may with perfect 

 impunity be touched with a glass rod, or the hand wrapped in a dry silk handker- 

 chief ; but metals, water, and almost all moist bodies conduct it readily. If the 

 animal is touched with one hand only, that is, if it is touched only in one place, no 

 shock is felt ; but if it is touched in two places considerably apart from each other, 

 the shock is very violent 



Tlie manner in which the force is applied is as follows : The gymnotus approaches 

 as nearly as possible its intended prey; the latter endeavour to escape, when the 

 gymnotus discharges its battery, which h as been found to be powerfully effective al 

 a distance of fifteen fee'. The creature tnus benumbed is incapable of any further 

 effort, and the eel swims leisurely towards and devours it. 



The degree of force which can be thus exerted is considerable. Horses entering 



