3 ELECTRICAL GYMNOTE. 



being much longer than would be sufficient for 

 what may be called its progressive motion. For 

 the real body, or that part where the viscera lye, 

 is situated, with respect to the head, as in other 

 fish, and is extremely short ; so that, according to 

 the ordinary proportions, this should be a very short 

 fish. Its great length, therefore, seems chiefly in- 

 tended to afford a surface for the support of the pecu- 

 liar organ : the tail-part, however, is likewise adapted 

 to the progressive motion of the whole, and to preserve 

 the specific gravity ; for the spine, medulla spinalis, 

 muscles, fin, and air-bladder, are continued through 

 its whole length. Besides which parts, there is a 

 membrane passing from the spine to that fin which 

 runs along the belly or lower edge of the animal. 

 This membrane is broad at the end next to the 

 head, terminating in a point at the tail. It is a 

 support for the abdominal fin, gives a greater sur- 

 face of support for the organ, and makes a parti- 

 tion between the organs of the two opposite sides. 



" The organs which produce the peculiar effect 

 of this fish, constitute nearly one half of that part 

 of the flesh in which they are placed, and perhaps 

 make more than one third of the whole animal. 

 There are two pair of these organs, a larger and 

 a smaller; one being placed on each side. The 

 large pair occupy the whole lower or anterior, and 

 also the lateral part of the body, making the thick- 

 ness of the fore or lower parts of the animal, and 

 run almost through its whole length, viz. from the 

 abdomen to near the end of the tail. It is broadest 

 on the sides of the fish at the interior end, where 



