ELECTRIC FISHES I GYMNOTUS. 



341 



means of organs specially adapted for the purpose; and of 

 discharging it at will, with considerable violence. It is re- 

 markable that all these belong to the class of Fishes ; l and that 

 they should differ alike in their general conformation, and in 

 their geographical distribution. Thus, the two species of 

 Torpedo, belonging to the Eay tribe, are found on most of 

 the coasts of the Atlantic and Mediterranean ; sometimes so 

 abundantly, as to be a staple article of food. The Gfymnotus, 

 or Electric Eel, is confined to the rivers of South America. 

 The Malapterurus (commonly known as the Silurus) which 

 approaches more nearly to the Salmon tribe, occurs in the 

 Niger, the Senegal, and the Nile; and there are two other less 

 known Fishes, said to possess electric properties, which inhabit 

 the Indian seas. 



420. Of all these, the Gymnotus (fig. 176) is the one which 

 possesses the electric power in the most extraordinary degree. 

 It is an eel-like fish, having nothing remarkable in its external 

 appearance ; its usual length is from six to eight feet, but it 

 is said occasionally to attain 

 the length of twenty feet. This 

 fish will attack and paralyse 

 horses, as well as kill small 

 animals ; and the discharges of 

 the larger individuals sometimes 

 prove sufficient to deprive even 

 Men of sense and motion. This 

 power is employed by the fish to 

 defend itself against its enemies; 

 and even, it is said, to destroy 

 its prey (which consists of other 

 fishes) at some distance; the 

 shock being conveyed by water, 

 as a lightning-conductor conveys to the earth the effects of 

 the electric discharge of the clouds. The first shocks are 

 usually feeble ; but as the animal becomes more irritated, 

 their power increases. After a considerable number of power- 

 ful discharges, the energy is exhausted, and is not recovered 

 for some time ; and this circumstance is taken advantage 01 

 in South America, both to obtain the fishes (which afford 



1 Certain Insects and Mollusks have been said to possess electrical 

 properties ; but no special electric organ has been discovered in them. 



Fig. 176. GYMNOTUS. 



