. Elements of zoölogy. Zoology. 164 BACKBONED ANIMALS. ing four filaments that twine about the sea-weed, prevent- ing them from washing ashore. Torpedoes (Torpedimdci).—The fishes of this family are electricians, and are common on the New England coast. The electric ap- paratus (Fig. 201) is situ- ated between the head and the bases of the pec- toral fins, and is composed of numerous hexagonal membranous tubes placed side by side at right an- gles with the surface of the body, and so close to it that their ends are often visible above and below. The cells contain mucus, and are traversed by ne
. Elements of zoölogy. Zoology. 164 BACKBONED ANIMALS. ing four filaments that twine about the sea-weed, prevent- ing them from washing ashore. Torpedoes (Torpedimdci).—The fishes of this family are electricians, and are common on the New England coast. The electric ap- paratus (Fig. 201) is situ- ated between the head and the bases of the pec- toral fins, and is composed of numerous hexagonal membranous tubes placed side by side at right an- gles with the surface of the body, and so close to it that their ends are often visible above and below. The cells contain mucus, and are traversed by nerves that proceed from the eighth pair. So powerful is this battery that fishermen have been knocked over as if with an axe, the shocks also passing up the harpoon- rope, or the knife used in cutting them. Allied are sting-rays (Trygon), cow- nosed rays, etc. The great devil - fish (Fig. 202), that has curious prolongations or claspers at the head, attains a width of twenty-seven feet. They have been known to tow large vessels against the wind for long distances by fouling the anchor. The Japanese use the skeletons of rays in the imitation of tortoise- Fig. 201.—The torpedo, with its elec- trical apparatus displayed, d, bran- chiae ; c, brain; e, electric organ; g, cranium; m e, spinal cord; n, nerves to the pectoral fins; n p, nerves going to the electric organ ; o, Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Holder, Charles Frederick, 1851-1915; Holder, Joseph Bassett, 1824-1888, joint author. New York : D. Appleton and company
Size: 1229px × 2032px
Photo credit: © Paul Fearn / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectzoology, bookyear1884
