120 ELECTRIC RAY. Class IV. 



vim suam, ipsa non torpens ; mersaque in limo st 

 occultat, piscium qui securi supernal antes obtor- 

 puere, corripiens. * 



But the acknowledgements of every naturalist 

 are due to the late John Walsh, Esquire, for his 

 curious and unwearied researches into the nature 

 of this fish ; and for the first certainty we had 

 of its being a native of our seas. To him I am 

 particularly bound, for being enabled to correct 

 my errors in the former account. 



It is frequently seen in Torbay ; has been 

 once caught off Pembroke, and sometimes near 

 Wat erf or d in Ireland, and is generally taken, 

 like other flat fish, with the trawl ; but there is 

 an instance of its taking a bait, which vindicates 

 the fine account Oppian has left us of this fish. 

 It commonly lies in water of about forty fathoms 

 depth j and in company with the congenerous 

 Rays. 



The torpedo brings forth its young at the 

 autumnal equinox, as affirmed by Aristotle. 

 A gentleman of la Rochelle, on dissecting cer- 

 tain females of this species, the ] 0th of Septem- 

 ber, found in the matrices, several of the Jhs- 



* '.' The torpedo is well acquainted with its own powers, 

 " though itself never affected by them. It conceals itself in the 

 " mud, and benumbing the fish that are carelessly swimming 

 " about, makes a ready prey of them." 



