THE ELECTRIC EEL. 



273 



/he dorsal fin begins a little behind the head and runs to the tail, where it is united with the 

 anal fin. Both these fins are, however, low and ileshy, and not at all conspicuous. The 

 length of this fish is extremely variable ; one captured specimen measured four feet four 

 inches in length. 



The Mursena, or Moray (Murosna melanotis), is found from Charleston, S. C, to Florida. 

 Its usual length is about twenty inches. Its shape is somewhat like that of the Blennies. 

 Its propensity to bite, and general appearance, are suggestive of snake. 



The Electkic Eel is even more remarkable for its capability of delivering powerful 

 electric shocks than the torpedo. 



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Mu KiENA .— Mitrana hdena. 



The Electric Eel is a native of Southern America, and inhabits the rivers of that warm 

 and verdant country. The organs wilich enable it to produce such wonderful effects are 

 double, and lie along the body, the one upon the other. 



The reader will remember that in the torpedo the electric effect was produced by a number 

 of little columns ; in the Electric Eel, the corresponding organ consists of a great number 

 of divisions, technically called " septa," which are again subdivided by lesser transverse 

 membranes. One organ is always larger than the other ; and it was found that in a fish 

 measuring about two feet four inches in length, there were thirty-four septa hi the larger 

 organ and fourteen in the smaller. On an average two hundred and forty transverse 

 membranes are packed in each inch, thereby giving a vast extent of electricity- producing 

 surface. It was calculated by Lacepede, that the expanse of this organ in an Electric Eel of 

 four feet in length is equivalent to one hundred and twenty-three square feet, while that of a 

 large torpedo only equals fifty-eight feet. 



Vol. in. -35. 



