292 Miscellaneous. 



numerous minute globules, which when viewed with a power of 800 

 linear, are seen to constitute a very beautiful fibro-vesicular tissue, 

 having a broad and gibbous thread with irregular interspaces. The 

 original structures, together with highly magnified drawings of the 

 tissues, were exhibited to the Society. 



Messrs, John Dalrymple and Varley communicated the result of 

 their observations on the circulation in Closterium, and also on the 

 structure of other allied genera. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



ON A TORPEDO TAKEN ON THE IRISH COAST. 



In the last week of October 1838, a Torpedo, taken on the Irish 

 coast by a fisherman who supplies the Dublin market, was brought 

 to the metropolis, and when quite recent purchased by Dr. Jacob, 

 Professor of Anatomy, &c. to the Royal College of Surgeons. When 

 in Dublin some time afterwards, I embraced the opportunity of ex- 

 amining the specimen, which was at once aflforded me w^ith Dr. 

 Jacob's usual kindness and liberality. The fish, from the careful 

 manner in which it had been kept, was with the exception of the 

 electric organs (which had been removed) still perfect, and for every 

 purpose of description in as good a state as could be desired. My 

 chief object was to ascertain its species, as even in our latest works 

 — those of Jenyns and Yarrell — that of the Torpedo of the British 

 seas is considered to be undetermined. Although the investigation 

 was on the whole unsatisfactory, owing to the confusion in which 

 the species of Torpedo are at present involved ; the notes made with 

 reference to the works consulted on the subject may possibly be 

 worth transcribing. 



Of Gesner's figures, none accord with the individual under con- 

 sideration, and if they be correctly drawn, it differs in species from 

 them. It does not agree with either of the Torpedos given by Al- 

 drovandus, nor with those of Johnston — his appear to be copies from 

 preceding works. Willughby's figure (T. maculosa) is the same as 

 that of Aldrovandus. With one taken on the coast of France, at 

 Rochelle, and figured by Walsh in the Philosophical Transactions 

 for 1773, vol. Ixiii. tab. 19. my specimen is evidently identical; the 

 only difference worthy of note is, that the spiracles are represented 

 as notched, which they are not in the specimen, and this cannot be 

 a sexual character, as Walsh's fish was a female as well as the pre- 



