. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. â'«^4 K J. i:ij:.;Tiii(.' kej,. -iiiimnullts Ihe midor wil remoiiiber tliat in the the electric ellect was produced bv a number ot little clniiuis; in the Electric Kel, the crrespoiiding organ consists of a L'reut number ol divisions, technically called "septa," M-hicIi aiv auain ! by lesser transverse membranes. One organ is always larger than the other ; and it was vl,ai m a hsh measuring two f
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Reptiles; Fishes; Mollusks; Natural history; Reptiles; Poissons; Mollusques; Sciences naturelles. â'«^4 K J. i:ij:.;Tiii(.' kej,. -iiiimnullts Ihe midor wil remoiiiber tliat in the the electric ellect was produced bv a number ot little clniiuis; in the Electric Kel, the crrespoiiding organ consists of a L'reut number ol divisions, technically called "septa," M-hicIi aiv auain ! by lesser transverse membranes. One organ is always larger than the other ; and it was vl,ai m a hsh measuring two feet lour inelu-s i-i leiigtli, tliere were thirty-four septa m the larger organ and lourteen in the smaller. On an average two hundred and forty transverse membranes are packed in each inch, thereby giving a vast extent of electricitv- producing snriaee. It was calculated by Lacepede, that the\.xpans(; of this organ in an J^lectric Le ot four leet m lengtli is to .me hundred and twenty-three square leet, wlnlc that ot a large torjx'do only equals lifty-eiglit feet In the native country of these tishes they are captured by an ingenious but somewhat cruel process. A herd of ^vlld horses are driven to the spot and urged into the water IJio alarmed Gymnoti, finding their domains thus , call forth all the terrors t^!h7 'Tl f.^:*^l^^'''.>; *" ^'^'I'^'l tl'" intruders, and discharge their j-ent-np liglituiugs with teartu rapubty and lorce. Cihding under the bellies of the frioht'ned hav,^s they press hemselves against their bodies, ns if to ,.,i/e all the .aectrical tluid, and by shock shuck gennally siureed in dr.,\\i,ing .several of the poor quadrupeds. Horses, h,.wever, an, but of slight value in that country, hardly, indeed so much valued as pig.'ons in , and as fast as they from t'he water in frantic terror, are driven back among their dn-a-l enemies. I'resenlly the b-come less powerful, iur the Oymnotus .s
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubj, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectmollusks
