ELECTRIC KAY. 411 



Baron Cuvier, seA'eral species have been included under the 

 name of the Rata Torpedo of Linnseus, the true name of the 

 British species is still doubtful, and it remains therefore for 

 some naturalist who is fortunate enough to obtain a British 

 specimen to determine the particular species of our coast. 



Colonel Montagu, in his MS. notes, mentions having met 

 with two examples of the Torpedo ; but no description of 

 either of them is given. The first was of small size, and 

 was taken at Torcross, where it was so rare as to be unknown 

 to the oldest of the fishermen of that place. Of the second, 

 the notice is as follows : — " I observed a very large speci- 

 men that was taken on a Turbot-hook off the coast of Ten- 

 by, in Wales. It was dead when disengaged from the hook, 

 or the fisherman would certainly have had a shock that would 

 have made him remember the species again. It appeared, 

 however, so rare an occurrence here, that no one knew the 

 fish, which was exhibited as an extraordinary creature. Its 

 weight was about one hundred pounds." 



The figure at the head of this subject was taken from a 

 small specimen which appears to be of the same species as 

 that figured by Pennant in the British Zoology ; but Pen- 

 nant's plate, which exhibits in the two outside figures the 

 under and upper surface of a female, the third and middle 

 figure being that of a male of smaller size, appears to have 

 been copied from a larger print representing specimens taken 

 on the sea-shore in the neighbourhood of La Rochelle. Mr. 

 Donovan's figiu'e differs from that of Pennant in exhibiting 

 a marbled appearance on its upper surface, with five distinct 

 dark spots : it differs also in its form and proportions. 



The electrical powers of the Torpedo are so well under- 

 stood by the different names that have been applied to it, as 

 well as by the various and voluminous accounts that have 

 been published, that it is unnecessary to repeat here what 



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