Class IV. ELECTRIC RAY. 121 



fuses quite formed, and nine eggs, in no state of 

 forwardness : superfoetation seems therefore to 

 be a property of this fish. 



The food of the torpedo is fish ; a surmullet 

 and a plaise having been found in the stomach 

 of two of them. The surmullet is a fish of that 

 swiftness, that it was impossible for the torpedo 

 to take it by pursuit. Though by their electric 

 stroke, they stupify their prey, yet the crab and 

 sea leech will venture to annoy them. 



They will live four and twenty hours out of 

 the sea ; and but very little longer if placed in 

 fresh water. Inhabit sandy places ; and will 

 bury themselves superficially in it, by flinging 

 the sand over, by a quick flapping of all the 

 extremities. It is in this situation that the tor- 

 pedo gives his most forcible shock, which throws 

 down the astonished passenger, who inadver- 

 tently treads upon him. 



In our seas it grows to a great size, and 

 above eighty pounds weight. My description 

 was taken from a smaller, which I had the 

 pleasure of doing in company with Mr. Walsh. 

 Its length was eighteen inches from the head to descrip- 

 the tip of the tail ; the greatest breadth twelve TI0N " 

 inches. I could not inform myself of its weight; 

 but that of one, which measured four feet in 

 length, and two and a half in breadth, was 



