^ LETTER LV. 



Although this wonderful creature does not, on in- 

 spection, appear to be furnished with any extraordi- 

 nary qualities although it has no, muscles formed for 

 great exertions, nor an internal conformation percep- 

 tibly differing from the rest of the ray kind; yet it 

 possesses the unaccountable power of jbienurftbing, 

 the instant that it is touched, not only the hand and 

 the arm, but sometimes even the whole body. The 

 shock which it gives greatly resembles that of an 

 electrical machine, instantaneous, tingling, and pain- 

 ful. According to Kempfer's relation of 'his ovvii e$- 

 permients. scarcely any difference can be discovered, 

 between the shock produced by electricity, and that 

 giviwi by the torpedo, except that the latter is accom- 

 panied by some deleterious symptoms, such as ans 

 universal tremor, a sickness of the stomach, a general 

 convulsion, and a total suspension of the mental fa* 

 cullies. 



nature of that prmt;iplu which in thr tm'j ; r,tx> 

 produces these extraordmary effects, are, aud pro-* 

 bubly will for ever remain a mystery ; but we have 

 farts sufficient to ascei tum the manner in which this 

 fish exerts its paralysing powers, 



We cannot here, my dear Sir, restrain our admira* 

 tion, when we consider how wonderfully infinite wis- 

 dom has, by a hidden and mysterious quality; enabled 

 the torpedo to set at defiance the attacks of creatures 

 endowed with the most formidable powers. 



There are two other species of the rav, which, on 

 account of their singularity, merit attention. 



THE SEA DEVIL 



nas its snout divided as it were into two horns, and its 

 sides are terminated by the fins. It "grows sometimes 

 to the length of seven feet. 



THE STURGEON 



constitutes another distinct class. It is long, penta- 

 gonal, and covered with five rows of large bony 

 knobs, one on the back, and two on each side, with a 

 number of fins to promote its velocity in swimming, 

 Though the sturgeon be nearly as large as the shark, 

 ajid its figure almost as terrible, it is notwithstanding, 



