TORPEDO RAY. 313 



after leaving the skull, divides itself into two 

 branches, which pass to the electric organ through 

 the gills ; one between the second and third open- 

 ings, the other between the third and fourth, giving 

 small branches to the gill itself. These nerves hav- 

 ing entered the organs, ramify in every direction 

 between the columns, and send in small branches 

 upon each partition v/here they are lost. The 

 magnitude and number of the nerves bestowed on 

 these organs in proportion to their size, must on 

 reflection appear as extraordinary as the phaeno- 

 mena they afford. Nerves are given to parts either 

 for sensation or action. If we except the more 

 important senses of hearing, seeing, tasting, and 

 smelling, which do not belong to the electric or- 

 gans, there is no part, even of the most perfect ani- 

 mal, which, in proportion to its size, is so liberally 

 supplied with nerves; nor do the nerves seem ne- 

 cessary for any sensation which can be supposed to 

 belong to the electric organs ; and, wich respect to 

 action, there is no part of any animal with which I 

 am acquainted, however strong and constant its 

 natural actions may be, which has so great a pro- 

 portion of nerves. If it be then probable that those 

 nerves are not necessary for the purposes of sen- 

 sation or action, may we not conclude that they 

 are subservient to the formation, collection, or 

 management of the electric fluid ? especially as it 

 appears evident from Mr. Walsh's experiments, 

 that the will of the animal does absolutely control 

 the electric powers of its body; which must depend 

 on the energy of the nerves." 



