[ 4»2 ] 
the female fpecimen, now prefen ted to the Society, 
as well as of that from which the plate was taken : 
but where there is any difference in the organ 
arifing from difference in fize, notice will be taken 
of it in this account. 
The eleCtric organs of the Torpedo are placed on 
each fide of the cranium and gills, reaching from 
thence to the femicircular cartilages of each great 
fin, and extending longitudinally from the anterior 
extremity of the animal to the tranfverfe cartilage, 
which divides the thorax from the abdomen ; and 
within thefe limits they occupy the whole fpace be- 
tween the Ikin of the upper and of the under fur- 
faces : they are thickeff at the edges near the cen- 
ter of the fifh, and become gradually thinner to- 
wards the extremities. Each eleCtric organ, at it’s 
inner longitudinal edge, is unequally hollowed ; be- 
ing exactly fitted to the irregular projections of the 
cranium and gills. The outer longitudinal edge is a 
convex elliptic curve. The anterior extremity of 
each organ, makes the feCtion of a finall circle; and 
the pofterior extremity makes nearly a right angle 
with the inner edge. Each organ is attached to the 
iurrounding parts by a clofe cellular membrane, and 
alfo by fhort and ftrong tendinous fibres, which pafs 
direCtly acrofs, from it’s outer edge, to the femicir- 
cular cartilages.. 
They are covered, above and below, by the com- 
mon Ikin of the animal ; under which there is a thin 
fafcia fpread over the whole organ. This is com- 
pofed of fibres, which run longitudinally, or in the 
direction of the body of the animal : thefe fibres ap- 
pear to be perforated in innumerable places; which 
4 • gives 
