2l6 THE ELECTRIC RAY. 



The head and body are indistinct from each 

 other, and nearly of a circular form, two or three 

 inches thick in the middle, attenuating to extreme 

 thinness on the edges. The skin is smooth, of a 

 dusky brown colour above, and white underneath. 

 The ventral fins form on each side, at the end of the 

 body, nearly a quarter of a circle. The tail is short, 

 and the two dorsal fins are placed near its origin. 

 The mouth is small, and, as in the other species, 

 there are on each side below it five breathing aper- 

 tures. 



The Electric Rays are partial to sandy bottoms, 

 in about forty fathoms of water, where they often 

 bury themselves by flinging the sand over them, by 

 a quick napping of all the extremities. In Torbay 

 they are generally taken, like other flat-fish, with 

 the trawl-net ; and instances have occurred of their 

 seizing a bait. 



This fish possesses the same property of benumb- 

 ing its prey as that which I have before described 

 in the Electric Eel ; and, when it is in health and 

 vigour, the shock that it communicates is often very 

 severe : but its powers always decline as the animal 

 declines in strength, and when it expires they en- 

 tirely cease. In winter these are also much less for- 

 midable than during warm weather. 



Dr. Ingenhouz had a Torpedo for some time in a 

 tub of sea-water, which, from its being during win- 

 ter, seemed to be feeble. On taking it into his 

 hands, and pressing it on each side of the head, a 

 sudden tremor, which lasted for two or three se- 

 conds, passed into his fingers^ but extended no tur~ 



