2l8 THE ELECTRIC RAY. 



suspended to another, nor through an almost invi- 

 sible separation made by a penknife in a slip of tin- 

 foil pasted on sealing-wax *. 



The properties of this fish have been described by 

 Oppian ; but, with that liberty which poets always 

 think themselves entitled to, he has endowed it with 

 the power of benumbing the fisherman through the. 

 whole length of his line and rod, 



The hook'd Torpedo ne'er forgets his art, 

 But soon as struck begins to play its part ; 

 And to the line applies his magic sides : 

 Without delay the subtile power glides 

 Along the pliant rod and slender hairs, 

 Then to the fisher's hand as swift repairs: 

 Amaz'd he stands, his arms of sense bereft, 

 Down drops the idle rod, his prey is left: 

 Not less benumbed than had he felt the whole 

 Of frost's severest rage beneath the Arctic polef. 



In the general structure of its body, the Torpedo 

 lias not been found to differ materially from the rest 

 of the Rays. The electric organs are placed one on 

 each side of the cranium and gills, reaching from 

 thence to the semicircular cartilages of each great 

 fin, and extending longitudinally from the anterior 

 extremity of the animal to the transverse cartilage 

 which divides the thorax from the abdomen : and 

 within these limits they occupy the whole space be- 

 tween the skin of the upper and under surfaces. 

 Each organ is attached to the surrounding parts by 



* Walsh in Phil. Tran. vol. ixiii. p. 461, 

 + Jones's translation of Oppian. 



