TORPEDO RAY* 



305 



in air, and between a shock delivered with greater 

 exertion on the part of the animal and one with 

 less, seemed to determine, that the charge of his 

 organs with electricity was effected in an instant, 

 as well as the discharge." 



" The Torpedo was then put into a flat basket, 

 open at the top, but secured by a net with wide 

 meshes, and in this confinement was let down into 

 the water about a foot below the surface : being 

 there touched through the meshes, with only a 

 single finger, on one of his electric organs, while 

 the other hand was held at a distance in the water, 

 he gave shocks which were distinctly felt in both 

 hands." 



The circuit for the passage of the effect being 

 contracted to the finger and thumb of one hand, 

 applied above and below to a single organ, pro- 

 duced a shock, to our sensation, of twice the force 

 of that in the larger circuit by the arms." 



" The Torpedo still confined in the basket, being 

 raised to within three inches of the surface of the 

 water, was there touched with a short iron bolt, 

 which was held half above and half in the water^ 

 by one hand, while the other hand was dipped, 

 as before, at a distance in the water ^ and strong 

 shocks, felt in both hands, were thus obtained 

 through the iron." 



" A wet hempen cord being fastened to the 

 iron bolt, was held in the hand above water, while 

 the bolt touched the Torpedo, and the shocks were 

 obtained through both these substances." 



" A less powerful Torpedo, suspended in a small 



