lxxvi INSTINCTS AND EMOTIONS. 



produce mortification and death. These fish also use their lateral spines 

 (ventral fins) with most fatal effect, and he had seen one during a battle 

 absolutely rip his antagonist quite open, so that it sank to the bottom 

 and died. 



Certain fishes are endowed with specific modes of showing their being 

 affected with anger or terror, although these same means may also be 

 employed for the purpose of obtaining food ; among these is the electric 

 eel, Gfymnotus ele'ctricans, of South America, which is furnished with 

 electric organs of such power as to be capable of -causing death even to 

 large animals. Humbolt and others have recorded how the Indians, when 

 they desire to capture this fish, drive .horses and mules into waters which 

 they inhabit, when, as soon as- disturbed, these eels attack the intruders. 

 They first glide ' under the horses' bellies and prostrate them by repeated 

 electric shocks, which by degrees diminish in intensity, for long rest and 

 nourishment are required to repair the galvanic force which they have 

 expended. It has been held that the possession of this power affords them 

 means of protection against alligators, while it is certainly employed 

 against other fish which it requires as food, but its onslaught on intruding 

 horses may be due to anger or terror. Even in British seas we find the 

 torpedo, or cramp ray (vol. ii, page 330) endowed with this- electric power. 

 The electric shock which it occasions is thus described by Kempfer. In 

 some cases the nerves are so affected that the person struck imagines all the 

 bones of his body, and particularly those of the limb that received the blow, ' 

 are driven out of joint. This is accompanied with a universal tremor, 

 a sickness at the stomach, a general convulsion, and a total suspension of 

 the mind. Quick-swimming fish have been found inside these torpedoes, 

 and would appear to have been captured by -means of electric shocks. 

 Whether we are to consider the attacks made by sword-fishes, Xiphiidce 

 (see vol. i, page 143), upon passing vessels are due to anger at being 

 disturbed, or under the impression that they are attacking their enemies, 

 the whales, is questionable ; but it is a well-ascertained fact that the planks 

 of numerous ships, especially in the Indian seas, have been pierced by the 

 strong rostral apparatus with which these fishes are provided either for 

 offence or defence. 



Tear is frequently observable. Thus some small forms were kept in an 

 aquarium along with an Antennarius, and were evidently in great dread of 

 their carnivorous neighbour, whom they continually tormented. But when 

 attacking it they always took care to strike at its posterior part, although 

 this was protected by a sort of coral. Many forms when hooked or netted 

 will empty their stomachs, either through fear or else to facilitate their escape, 

 by lightening their load. Along the sides of the pools and some of the 

 rivers of India, gulls and* terns may occasionally be seen congregating and 



