278 RAMBLES OF A NATURALIST. 



study of long neglected animal groups, and hence also 

 has emanated a spirit of emulation which brings the 

 naturalists of all countries to the sea-side, in search 

 of the objects of their study. The marine faunas 

 bear indeed very little resemblance to those of the 

 land, or air, or fresh water. The sea contains entire 

 groups belonging to special types which have no 

 representatives elsewhere. Here live almost exclu- 

 sively those singular beings which are often of 

 considerable size, although the animal organisation 

 is reduced to its simplest expression, seeming almost 

 as if they were objects fitted by the hand of nature 

 for elaborate experiments in physiology and which it 

 is sufficient to know, recognise, and interpret. It is 

 here more especially that we must seek those animals 

 of abnormal external forms and exceptional organic 

 arrangements which open to the student of nature vast 

 and ever varied fields of inquiry. 



Considered from this point of view, the JBranchel- 

 lion merits the serious attention of naturalists. This 

 animal lives as a parasite upon the Torpedo, and is 

 never met with elsewhere, a fact which, it may be 

 observed, is in itself extremely curious. Every one 

 is aware that the Torpedo is a living electrical 

 machine, which has the power of striking its enemies 

 even at a very considerable distance. Fishermen 

 daily witness evidences of the singular faculty of 

 this fish. As soon as it enters their net or chalut, 

 they are made aware of the fact by the shocks which 

 are transmitted through the tackle by which it is 

 suspended, and I was assured that these shocks are 

 often sufficiently violent to compel the men to let go 



