378 NEW- YORK FAUNA. 



sider them as identical. In this view I am sustained by Cuvier in the last edition of the 

 Regne Animal. The gioma rarely exceeds fifty pounds in weight, according to Risso ; while 

 our species is so large, that according to Mitchill, it required three pair of oxen, aided by a 

 horse and twenty-two men, to drag it to the dry land. It was estimated to weigh between 

 four and five tons. It approaches, in fact, nearer to the C. massena of Risso. 



The Sea Devil, or Oceanic Vampire as it has been not unaptly named, is known to seize 

 the cables of small vessels at anchor, and draw it for several miles with great velocity. An 

 instance of this kind was related to me by a credible eye-witness, as having occurred in the 

 harbor of Charleston. A schooner lying at anchor, was suddenly seen moving across the 

 harbor with great rapidity, impelled by some unknown and mysterious power. Upon ap- 

 proaching the opposite shore, its course was changed so suddenly as nearly to capsize the 

 vessel, when it again crossed the harbor with its former velocity, and the same scene was 

 repeated when it approached the shore. These mysterious flights across the harbor were 

 repeated several tim'es, in the presence of hundreds of spectators, and suddenly ceased. 



There is strong presumptive evidence, from the authorities cited by Mitchill and Storer, of 

 the existence of a Ray on our coast, belonging to the Genus Torpedo, and called Numb-fish 

 and Cramp-fish ; but as yet it has not been examined by any naturalist. 



