CLASS OF FISHES. 



349 



posed of a great number of parallel membraniform plates, 

 which are nearly horizontal, and united by an infinity of other 

 still smaller plates,* placed vertically across; these small 

 prismatic and transverse cells formed by the reunion of 

 these laminsB are filled with a gelatinous matter, and the 

 apparatus receives numerous very large nerves. 



Fig. 321. Electric Apparatus of the Torpedo.f 



The torpedo (Fig. 320), is a cartilaginous fish, resembling 

 the skate. Its body is smooth, and represents a disc nearly 



* I have counted 240 of these plates in the inch. H. K. 



t c, the brain ; me, spinal marrow ; o, eye and optic nerve ; e, electric- 

 organs ; np, pneumogastric nerves proceeding to the electric organs ; nl, a 

 branch of the preceding forming the lateral nerve ; n, spinal nerves. 



