ELECTRICAL TORPEDO. 4$5 



of water, transmitted it from thence, in two distinct channels, ai 

 their sensation convinced them, into another basin of water, frotn 

 whence it was conducted, probably in an united state, by a single 

 wire. How much further the effect might be thus divided and sub* 

 divided into different channels, was not determined ; but it was 

 found to be proportionately weakened by multiplying these cir* 

 tuits, as it had been by extending the single circuit." 



The body of the torpedo is of a somewhat circular form, per- 

 fectly smooth, slightly convex above, and marked along each sid 

 of the spine by several small pores or foramina: the colour of the 

 upper surface is usually a pale reddish brown, sometimes marked 

 by five large, equidistant, circular dusky spots, with paler cen- 

 tres : the under surface is whitish or flesh-coloured. The torpedo, 

 however, is observed to vary considerably in the cast and intensity 

 of its colours. The general length of the torpedo seems to be 

 about eighteen inches, or two feet, but it is occasionally found of 

 far larger dimensions, specimens having been taken on our own 

 coasts of the weight of fifty, sixty, and even eighty pounds. A 

 specimen weighing fifty-three pounds was found, according to 

 Mr. Pennant, to measure four feet in length, and two and a-half 

 in breadth : the head and body, which were indistinct, were nearly 

 round ; about two inches thick in the middle, attenuating to ex* 

 treme thinness on the edges : below the body the ventral fins 

 formed on each side a quarter of a circle : the two dorsal fins were 

 placed on the trunk of the tail : the eyes were small, placed near 

 each other: behind each was a round spiracle, with six small 

 cutaneous rays on their inner circumference : the mouth was small; 

 the teeth minute and spicular : the colour of the animal was cine- 

 reous brown above, and white beneath. The torpedo is an inha- 

 bitant of most seas, but seems to arrive at a larger size in the 

 .Mediterranean than elsewhere. It is generally taken with the 

 trawl, but has been sometimes known to take a bait, thus justify- 

 ing the description of Oppian. It commonly lies in water of 

 about forty fathoms depth, in company with others of this genus. 

 It preys on smaller fish ; and, according to Mr. Pennant, a sur- 

 mullet and a plaise have been found in the stomach of two of them : 

 the surmullet, as Mr. Pennant well observes, is a fish of thajt 

 swiftness, that it would be impossible for the torpedo to take it by 

 pursuit: we must therefore suppose that it stupifies its prey by 



