42 



ELECTRICAL GYMNOTE. 



where it inhabits the larger rivers, and is parti- 

 cularly found in those of Surinam. In Africa it is 

 said chiefly to occur in the branches of the river 

 Senegal. It is a fish of a disagreeable appearance ; 

 bearing a general resemblance to a large eel, though 

 somewhat thicker in proportion, and of a much 

 darker colour, being commonly of an uniform 

 blackish brown. It is usually seen of the length 

 of three or four feet, but is said to arrive at a far 

 larger size, specimens occasionally occurring of six, 

 seven, or even ten feet in length. It was first made 

 known to the philosophers of Europe about the 

 year 1671, when its wonderful properties were an 

 nounced to the French academy by Monsr. Richer, 

 one of the gentlemen sent out by the academy to 

 conduct some mathematical observations in Cay- 

 enne. This account however seems to have been 

 received with a degree of cautious scepticism by 

 the major part of European naturalists, and it was 

 not till towards the middle of the late century that 

 a full and general conviction appears to have taken 

 place ; the observations of Monsr. Condamine, Mr. 

 Ingram, Mr. Gravesend, and others, then conspir- 

 ing to prove that the power of this animal consists 

 in a species of real electricity, being conducted by 

 similar conducting substances, and intercepted by 

 others of an opposite nature. Thus, on touching 

 the fish with the fingers, the same sensation is per- 

 ceived as on touching a charged vial ; being some- 

 times felt as far as the elbows; and if touched by 

 both hands, an electric shock is conveyed through 

 the breast in the usual manner. Fermi n, in par- 



