on the Torpedo at the Cape of Good Hope. 12 g 
however, I was also sometimes deceived ; and I think I have 
received shocks (particularly when the animal has been debi- 
litated, and the shocks weak,) without having been able to 
observe this muscular action. 
Two of these animals, as nearly alike in every circumstance 
as possible, being each placed in a separate bucket of sea- water, 
from one of them frequent shocks were elicited by irritation, 
viz. simple contact, or pricking, &c. ; the other was allowed to 
remain undisturbed. The former became languid, the in- 
tensity of its shocks diminished, and it soon died ; the last 
shocks being received in a continued succession, producing 
pricking sensations never extending above the hand. The 
latter continued vivacious, and lived until the third day. This 
experiment was frequently repeated with the same results ; 
and it might be observed, in general, where there was no di- 
rect comparison made, that those which parted with the shocks 
most freely soonest became languid, and died ; and those 
which parted with them most reluctantly, lived the longest. 
Two torpedos being placed exactly in the same circum- 
stances as the last- mentioned, from one shocks were elicited 
until it became debilitated. It was then allowed to remain 
until the following day. When they were both examined, 
it was found that the animal from which no shocks had been 
previously received, discharged them very freely ; but it was 
with the greatest difficulty that they could be procured from 
the other. 
Having made an incision on each side of the cranium and 
gills of a lively torpedo, I pushed aside the electrical organs, 
so as to expose and divide their nerves. The animal was 
then placed in a bucket of sea-water. On examining it in 
Re 
