TOR 
and fharp-pointed ; and behind each eye there is a 
Ihiall orifice. The teeth are numerous, arranged 
in three rows, fmall, fharp, triangular, and fer- 
rated on their inner edges. The firft dorfal fin is 
upwards of a foot and a half from the head j the 
fecond is near the tail ; and the tail itfelf is finned 
beneath, the upper part ending in a fharp angle. 
Rondeletius informs us that this fpecies is ex- 
tremely fierce and voracious, purluing it's prey to 
the very edge of the fhore. The fliin and flefh 
have an offenfive, rank fmell; from whence it has 
ironically received the appellation of Sweet Wil- 
liam. 
TORDINO. A name by which the Venetians 
exprefs a bird of the lark kind, called alfo fpino- 
letta. 
TORDO MARINO. A bird of the ftarling 
kind; called alfo ruticilla major; and by Aldro- 
vandus Merula Saxatilis. It is about the fize of 
the common ftarling, and greatly refembles it in 
figure. The breaft is greyifh, with a black tranf- 
verfe ftreakj the head and back are blacki/li, with 
fome flight variegations of grey ; the tail is long, 
and of a reddilh orange colour; and the under fea- 
thers of the wings are of the fame hue. 
The female is moufe-coloured, variegated with 
white, on the back ; and a(h-coloured on the belly. 
This bird is commonly met with in Germany; 
and may be taught to imitate the human voice. 
TORGOCH. A name by which fome au- 
thors exprefs the charr. See Charr, 
TORPEDO, Cramp FiHi, or Eleflric Ray; 
the Kaja Torpedo of Linnaeus. 
This is a well known and formidable animal; 
whofe narcotic, or numbing qualities, have been 
iioticed in all ages. The body is almoft: circular, 
and thicker than others of the ray kind; the flcin 
is foft, fmooth, and of a yellowifli colour, marked 
with large annular fpots like the reft of the kind ; 
the eyes are very fm.all; the tail tapers to a point; 
and the weight of the fifn is fometimes eighty 
pounds. From it's external appearance, none 
would fuppofe it poffeffed of any very extraordi- 
nary powers: it has nomufcles which feern calcu- 
lated for any great exertions; no internal con- 
formation eflentially different from the reft of it's 
kind ; yet fuch is it's wonderful power when alive, 
that it inftantly deprives the perfon who handles 
it of the ufe of that member which comes in con- 
tadl with it, and even afFetls him if he only 
touches it with a ftick. Oppian afferts, that it 
will benumb the aftonifhed fiilierman through the 
whole length of line and rod. 
The fhock given by the Torpedo refembles 
the ftroke of an eleftrical machine. Kempfer 
gives us the following account of it: ' The in- 
ilant,' fays he, ' I touched it with my hand, I felt 
a terrible numbnefs in my arm, and as far as my 
fhoulder. Even if one treads upon it with the 
fhoe on, it aff^efts not only the leg, but the whole 
thigh upwards. Thofe who touch it with the 
foot, are feized with a ftronger palpitation than 
even thofe who touch it with the hand. This 
numbnefs bears no refemblance to that which we 
feel when a nerve is a long time prefTed, and the 
foot is faid to be afleep; it rather appears like a 
ludden vapour, which, pafTing through the pores 
in an inftant, penetrates to the very fprings of 
life, from which it diffufes itfelf over the whole 
body, and gi /es it real pain. The nerves are fo 
airedled, that the perfon llruck imagines all the 
bones oi his body, and particularly thofe of the 
limb that received the blow, are driven out of 
■TOR 
joint. All this is accompanied with an univerfal 
tremor, a ficknefs of ftomach, a general convul- 
fion, and a total fufpenfion of the faculties of the 
mind. In fhort, fuch is the pain, that all the 
force of our promifes and authority could not 
prevail on a feaman to undergo the fhock a fe- 
cond time. A negro, indeed, that was ftanding 
by, readily undertook to touch the Torpedo; and 
was feen to handle it v/ithout feeling any of it's 
effects. Fie informed us, that his whole fecrec 
confiPted in keeping in his breath; and we found, 
upon trial, that this m.erhod anfvvered vvith our- 
felves. When we held in our breath, the Tor- 
pedo was harmlefs; but when Vv'e breathed ever fo 
little, it's efficacy took place.' 
Though Kempfer has given an accurate de- 
fcription of the effefls produced by the fliock of 
this creature, experience has proved, that holding 
in the breath will not preferve from it's violence; 
and yet the fifh may fometimes be touched with 
perfefl fecurity. 
Great as the powers of the Torpedo are when 
in vigour, they are impaired as it declines in 
ftrength, and totally ceafe when it expires. We 
alfo hazard a conjefture, v^hich thofe who have an 
opportunity may bring to the teft of experience, 
that a frequent repetition of the ftroke weakens 
it's effica<^y ; and that it might be totally exhaufted 
of it's cleclric power for fome little fpace, till it 
could gain tinie to recruit it's ftrength afrclh. 
The noxious qualities of the Torpedo by no 
means affeft it's fiefli ; for it is frequently eaten by 
the French and other nations. Galen affirms, 
that it is ferviceable to epileptic patients; and that 
the fnock of the living fifh, applied to the head, 
is efficacious in removing any pains in that part. 
There is a double ufe in this flrange faculty 
with which the Torpedo is endued: it is exerted 
as a means of defence againft voracious iifli, which 
by a fingle touch are deprived of all poffibility 
of feizing their prey; and, by concealing itfelf in 
the mud, and benumbina; fuch fifh as are care- 
lefsly fwimming about, it makes a ready prey of 
them. 
The Torpedo is a native of the Mediterranean 
and many other feas; and is not unfrequently 
found on the Britifh coafts, though it feems to be 
more peculiarly attached to warmer climates. 
The female Torpedo is generally fuppofed to 
be much more powerful than the male. Loren- 
zini, who made feveral experiments on this ani- 
mal, is of opinion that it's power is wholly refi- 
dent in two thin inufcles which cover a part of 
the back; thefc he calls the trembling fibres: 
and he feems convinced that the animal may be 
touched with fafety in any other part. It is now 
eenerally known that there are other fifli of the 
ray kind poffeiTed of this benumbing quality, 
which has gained them the appellation of the Tor- 
pedo. Atkins and Moore defcribe thefe as fhaped 
like the mackerel, except that the head is confi- 
derably larger. 
Condamine defcribes a fiin pofTeffed of the 
powers of the Torpedo, of a fhape very different 
from the former, and greatly refembling a lam- 
prey. He alfo informs us that, if touched by the 
hands, or even with a ftick, it inftantly benumbs 
the hand and arm to the very fhoulder. 
The fubfequent experiment made by Mr. 
Wallli, in prefence of the Academy of Rochelle, 
for evincing the circuit of the eledlric matter i!- 
fuingfrom the Torpedo, deferves attention. 
A living Torpedo v/as laid on a table, on a wet 
napkin j 
