ELECTRIC SHOCKS BY ANIMALS 183 



axe behind it. Finally heat was evolved, and the 

 electric spark obtained.' 



The electric cat-fish, electric sheath-fish, or 

 ' raad ' (Malapterus electricus) of tropical Africa 

 the latter name, meaning * thunder,' being the 

 one by which it is called by the Arabs although 

 never attaining to a greater length than four feet, 

 is, nevertheless, able to give a shock almost as 

 powerful as that of an electric eel. 



The electric organs, which are distributed over 

 the entire body, and form a gelatinous coat, lie 

 just beneath the skin ; but it appears that the 

 actual seat from which the current is discharged 

 is situated upon the top of the fish's back, and 

 indicated by a wavy and cream-coloured band. 

 The * battery ' differs from that of any other electric 

 fish, inasmuch as, instead of being composed of 

 modified muscular tissue, it originates from the 

 skin. Not long since a specimen of one of these 

 curious fish was exhibited at the London Zoological 

 Gardens, and notwithstanding that it was quite 

 a small individual and only measured about four 

 or five inches in length, yet, when the writer 

 gently placed his fingers upon the creature's 

 back, it caused a shock to pass through his 

 hand and up the arm to nearly as high as the 

 elbow. 



According to the reports of missionaries who 

 have spent many years in tropical Africa, the 

 natives turn to account the electrical powers of 

 these fish and make use of the same as a remedial 

 agent when their children happen to be ill ; the 



