TORPEDO RAY. 307 



thence, in two distinct channels, as their sensation 

 convinced them, into another basin of water, from 

 whence it was conducted, probably in an united 

 state, by a single wire. How much further the 

 effect might be thus divided and subdivided into 

 different channels, was not determined ; but it was 

 found to be proportionably weakened by multiply- 

 ing these circuits, as it had been by extending the 

 single circuit." 



The body of the Torpedo is of a somewhat cir- ' 

 cular form, perfectly smooth, sHghtly convex above, 

 and marked along each side of the spine by several 

 small pores or foramina : the colour of the upper 

 surface is usually a pale reddish brown, sometimes 

 marked by five large, equidistant, circular dusky 

 spots with paler centres : the under surface is 

 whitish or flesh-coloured. The Torpedo however 

 is observed to vary considerably in the cast and 

 intensity of its colours. The general length of the 

 Torpedo seems to be about eighteen inches or two 

 feet, but it is occasionally found of far larger di- 

 mensions, specimens having been taken on our 

 own coasts of the weight of fifty, sixty, and even 

 eighty pounds. A specimen weighing fifty-three 

 pounds was found, according to Mr. Pennant, to 

 measure four feet in length, and two and a half in 

 . breadth : the head and body, which were indistinct, 

 were nearly round ; about two inches thick in the 

 middle, attenuating to extreme thinness on the 

 edges : below the body the ventral fms formed on 

 each side a quarter of a circle : the two dorsal fins 

 were placed on the trunk of the tail ; the eyes were 



