3 It) TORPEDO RAY. 



described ; the anterior, outer, and posterior edges 

 are partly attached to the semicircular cartilages, 

 and partly lost in the common cellular membrane. 

 This inner fascia appears to be continued into the 

 electric organ, by so many processes, and thereby 

 makes the membranous sides or sheaths of the 

 columns, which are presently to be described ; and 

 between these processes the fascia covers the end 

 of each column, m^^ing the outermost or first 

 partition. Each organ is about five inches in 

 length, and, at the anterior end three in breadth, 

 though it is but little more than half as broad at the 

 posterior extremity. Each consists wholly of per- 

 pendicular columns, reaching from the upper to the 

 under surface of the body, and varying in their 

 lengths, according to the thickness of the parts of 

 the body where they are placed; the longest column 

 being about an inch and half, and the shortest 

 about one fourth of an inch in length, and their 

 diameters about two tenths of an inch. The figures 

 of these columns are very irregular, varying ac- 

 cording to situation and other circumstances. The 

 greatest number of them are either irregular hexa- 

 gons, or irregular pentagons ; but from the irregu- 

 larity of some of them it happens that a pretty 

 regular quadrangular column is sometimes formed. 

 Those of the exterior row are either quadrangular 

 or hexagonal, having one side external, two lateral, 

 and either one or two internal. In the second row 

 they are mostly pentagons. Their coats are very 

 thin, and seem transparent, closely connected with 

 each other^ having a kind of Ipose network of 



