84 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Description. 



CHAP. V. 



The hook'd torpedo ne'er forgets his art, 

 But soon as struck begins to play its part; 

 And to the line applies his magic sides: 

 Without delay the subtile power glides 

 Along the pliant rod and slender hairs, 

 Then to the fisher's hand as swift repairs : 

 Aiuaz'd he stands, his arms of sense bereft, 

 Down drops the idle rod, his prey is left : 



JONES'S OPPIAK. 



THE TORPEDO, 



111 ERE are about twenty species of the ray, 

 of all which the torpedo, or electric ray, is ths 

 most remarkable, as it possesses some very dis- 

 tinguishing peculiarities. In the general struc- 

 ture of its body it has not been found to differ 

 materially from the rest of the rays. The elec- 

 tric organs are placed one on each side of the 

 graniuni or gills, reaching from thence to the se- 

 mi-circular cartilages of each great fin, and ex- 

 tending longitudinally from the anterior extre- 

 mity of the animal to the transverse cartilage 

 which divides the thorax from the abdomen, and 



