The natural history of fishes, amphibians, & reptiles, or monocardian animals . usual shape of other fishes; although notlonger than the head and body, it is thick and fleshy,terminated by a distinct caudal fin, and bearing aboveit two dorsals: but all these three fins are much smallerthan the ventrals ; these are triangular, and placed oneach side the vent, which is in the middle of the situation of the eyes, the mouthy and the branchialspiracles, is precisely the same as in the thornbacks. (157-) The torpedos appear to be of many species,,and to inhabit the seas of nearly all temper
The natural history of fishes, amphibians, & reptiles, or monocardian animals . usual shape of other fishes; although notlonger than the head and body, it is thick and fleshy,terminated by a distinct caudal fin, and bearing aboveit two dorsals: but all these three fins are much smallerthan the ventrals ; these are triangular, and placed oneach side the vent, which is in the middle of the situation of the eyes, the mouthy and the branchialspiracles, is precisely the same as in the thornbacks. (157-) The torpedos appear to be of many species,,and to inhabit the seas of nearly all temperate andtropical latitudes. As we cannot well pass over theextraordinary properties of these fishes, and yet cannotspeak of them from our own observation, the reader willunderstand that the following account is abridged fromthe best authors who have written upon the form of the electric torpedo is much the same asthat of the spotted Indian species (fig, 21.): the size, ofcourse, varies; its general length is about two feet; VOL. I. N 178 CLASSIFICATION OF but one mentioned by Pennantwas nearly four, and weighedfifty-three pounds : the colourof the upper surface is differentshades of brown, sometimesmarked with obscure ocellatespots; the under surface iswhitish or flesh-coloured. Likeothers of this family, the tor-pedo seems to lay in wait forits prey, partly buried in thesandy bottom of the sea; andthis is effected by the animalquickly flapping all its fins, soas to cast the surroundingsand partially over its to Pennant, it preys upon surmullets, plaice,&c, which have been found in their stomach : in whatmanner, however, these swift swimming fish are caught—whether by a sudden dart of the torpedo from itsambush, or by exerting its electric faculty — must re-main undetermined. Before detailing the effects of thispower, we shall give the reader the following abstract ofDr. Hunters description of the organs which producethem. (158.) The elect
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubj, booksubjectfishes, booksubjectreptiles
