FISHES. 293 
er the electricity accumulated in their batteries is pretty 
much expended on the horses—some of them, perhaps, 
being killed by it—the Eels are captured with impunity. 
378. There is an aberrant genus of the Ray family 
which has a similar apparatus, the situation of which is 
seen in Fig. 176, in the two elevations extending from the 
Vig. 176.—Torpedo. 
eyes about half way down the body. This fish is found 
chiefly in the Mediterranean, where its powers are well 
known and are much feared. The apparatus is represent- 
ed in Fig. 177 (p. 224), the batteries on each side being 
ate. On one side is seen the nerve, which, branching out 
from the brain, c, to the battery,is the means by which 
the animal can work it at pleasure. The batteries are 
composed of multitudes of tubes pressed one against an- 
other like the cells of a honeycomb, and filled with a 
thick fluid. The true Rays have on the tail and other 
parts barbs or prickles with which they can inflict wounds. 
They are shaped much like the Flatfish (§ 373). But in 
their case the upper side is really the back and the under 
side is the belly; and they are symmetri¢al, having the 
eyes on the upper side, and the mouth, nostrils, and gill- 
