AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 473 



After the eel has discharged an accumulation of electricity, his 

 courage leaves him, and he becomes perfectly harmless for a time, 

 and flees from the animal with dread, that he had just before pur- 

 sued with fury. Quite an abundance of food is required befjre 

 he can again accumulate galvanic power. He can emit sparks of 

 electricity that will kill an object fifteen feet from him, and may 

 be immediately deprived of electric power by contact with load- 

 stone. 



As far as ascertained, all the fishes that possess this wonderful 

 power may be classed with the Genera Trichiurus, Tetrodon, 

 Gymnotus, Malapterurus and Raia ; the three last are the most 

 remarliable, and all their organs are unlike in situation and num- 

 ber; the general organization is accommodated to their individual 

 mode of life. 



The Malapterurus is an electric fish, whose organs of electricity 

 surround it directly beneath the skin, forming a mass of tissue of 

 a cellular nature, presenting the appearance of pork, and con- 

 sisting of fikes interlaced together, forming a perfect net-work of 

 cells, completely full of albuminous matter. Attached to this 

 there is a nervous system, entirely differing from that of the 

 electric eel and torpedo, and not unlike that of many otlier fishes, 

 which organ is formed into two parts by a longitudinal septum. 

 The Arabians were once very successful in cultivating the 

 sciences, and they not only observed this faculty of the Malap- 

 terurus, but likewise noticing the affinity between the lightning 

 of the heavens and that of this fish, they named him Raash, or 

 thunder. His senses of hearing and smell have no external 

 opening; the smell is the most acute. By it he discovers his 

 enemies and his prey at a very great distance, through the thick- 

 est gloom and most violently agitated sea. The organ of this 

 sense is directly between the eyes. 



The Jnahleps — This is a viviparous fish, having four eyes, the cor- 

 nea of which is divided into two equal parts, each part forming 

 a sphere, one placed above and the other below, but united by a 

 membrane. On examining the lower portion, you will perceive 

 a large iris and pupil with a crystal humor below it. This 

 structure is unparalleled in any other fish, as it is at all times 

 able to see distant and near objects. It feeds upon small worms, 



