ELECTRICAL GYMNOTE. 499 



equally accurate description of its internal structure, and more 

 particularly of its electric or galvanic organs, is given by Mr. 

 Hunter. Both these are printed in the 65th volume of the Philo- 

 sophical Transactions. 



" The largest of these fishes," says Dr. Garden, u was three feet 

 eight inches in length, when extending itself most, and might have 

 been from ten to fourteen inches in circumference about the thickest 

 part of the body. The head is large, broad, flat, smooth, and im- 

 pressed here and there with holes, as if perforated with a blunt 

 needle, especially towards the sides, where they are more regu- 

 larly ranged in a line on each side. The rostrum is obtuse and 

 rounded. The upper and lower jaws are of an equal length, and 

 the gape is large. The nostrils are two on each side j the first large 

 and tubular, and elevated above the surface; the others small, and 

 level with the skin, placed immediately behind the verge of the 

 rostrum, at the distance of an inch asunder. The eyes are small, 

 flattish, and of a blueish colour, placed about three quarters of an 

 inch behind the nostrils, and more towards the sides of the head. 

 The whole head seems to be well supported ; but whether with 

 bones or cartilages I could not learn. The body is large, thick, 

 and roundish, for a considerable distance from the head, and then 

 gradually grows smaller, but at the same time deeper; or becomes 

 of an acinaciform shape, to the point of the tail, which is rather 

 blunt. There are many light-coloured spots on the back and sides 

 of the body, placed at considerable distances in regular lines, but 

 more numerous and distinct towards the tail. When the fish was 

 swimming, it measured six inches in depth near the middle, from 

 the upper part of the back to the lower edge of the fin, and it could 

 not be more than two inches broad on the back at that place. The 

 whole body, from about four inches below the head, seems to be 

 clearly distinguished into four different longitudinal parts or divi- 

 sions. The upper part or back is roundish, of a dark colour, and 

 separated from the other parts on each side by the lateral sine 

 which, taking their rise at the base of the head, just above the pec- 

 toral fins, run down the sides, gradually converging, as the fish 

 grows smaller, to the tail, and make so visible a depression or fur- 

 row in their course, as to distinguish this from the second part or 

 division, which may be properly called the body, or at least, ap- 

 pears to be the strong muscular part of the fish. This second divi* 



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