New-York tribune., 1905-01-22
ELECTRIC FISHES.
They Possess the PO5cer of GiUing
Sererc Shocks.


notably the National Museum at Washington.
the British Museum of London and the Natural
History Museum % this city. On account of ad-
vancing age he retired from; active life several
years ago. Many end strange are the expert
ences he has undergone in various paris Of the
world. and there IS nothing delights him more
than 10 recount these 10 an appreciative listener
Il saw he SAID in conversation ttc other day,
"a curious thing once while collecting IN Africa
in the neishborhood OF Old Calabar River. /
had secured quarters in a small native village on
the river bank and one morning l was dress
ing I heard a most unearthly yelling outside.
Hurrying TO the door and looking out, found it
proceeded from little naked native boy belong
ing in the hut just across from mine. Discover
ing al a glance that the child not being
tortured 10 death I had at first supposed
from the noise he made I looked TO see the
cause for his outcry. A large tub was standing
in front Of the hut. and every few minutes the
child would put his hand into this. Immediately
afterward jumping back and emitting another
sQueal. While ! was standing there and wonder
ing what was the matter with him. his mother
came out Of the hut. and. picking him up In her
arms soused him into the tub. causing him to
emit most ear splitting howls and make frantic
efforts TO Chamber out Curious TO learn the
cause Of this strange proceeding. crossed over
and looked into the tub. from which the mother
had by this tine removed the boy. and was sur
pyised to see swimming around in it fish about
q foot and half in length Looking closer at
St I suddenly recognized IL TO be what the
natives called a thunder fish. and which Is
known 10 scientists as the malapterus. one OF
the sildrids or catfshes.
This Esh possesses the remarkable property
of being able 10 give an intense electric shock TO
any animate body which It touches. and on in
quiry Of the mother I found that it was a COM
a
aling 10 secure one of these fishes and compel
the little one to play with II. place the sick
one IN the tub so that II would come IA contact
with the live wire-I should say live fish.
Unlike most Of the electric fishes which
have their electric organ situated in a mass or
muscle. this animal has his in his skin which
is quite thick, and throughout which are found
sometimes as many as four million plates ar
ranged essentially as in a galYanic pile
while on the subject OF electric fishes must
tell you about a curious thing 1 once while
collecting specimens along one OF the tribu-
taries of the Orinoco, in South America. had
sat down 20 rest on the fallen trunk of tree
half Of which was lying in the water. and was
half asleep when q slight spsshing along the
bank attracted my notice and the collecting in
stinct which is ever strong, caused me at
once 10 become all attention Casting my eye
along the waters edge l noticed the head of
small animal which had evidently just plunged
into the water. and was swimming toward the
sunken end of the log upon which was sitting.
Just as he had covered about two-thirds Of the
distance I surprised 20 see a long, slender
white body rise in the air alongside the SWIM
mer, and apparently coil itself around the ami
NAL IN less time than ! take 10 tell il. At this
moment the hitherto unsuspecting animal saw
its danger, but 1t was then too late, for saw
the coil tighten and with a frantic yell the
animal rolled over on its back a though a bolt
of lightning had struck it. Very much sur
prIsed at such a remarkable occurrence. and
being curious to learn the cause Of II. at once
picked UP my shotgun and filed the animals
snakelike body with fine shot. l then plunged
in and brought both ashore. and then that
the animal had virtually been killed by bolt
OF lightning. for the creature which had at
hacked It the gynnotus. or electric eel,
which is quite common in those waters.
The gymnotus is probably the best known Of
the electric fishes. II possesses four batteries,
which extend from behind the pectoral or for
ward. fms to the extremity Of the tail The bat
teres consist Of a number Of piles placed hori-
Zontaly in a direction from head 10 tail, ana
have been aptly compared 10 galVanic troughs.
The current passes from before backward and,
remarkable 10 relate. passes through the ami
mails brain.
You have doubtless heard how the Indians
dare not cross South American streams which
are lnIesteo Dy these creatures, and therefore
adopt the expedient Of driving in their horses
upon which the eels fasIen and exhaust them
selves IN vain effort 20 Kill them When eX-
hausted they are unable through failure Of the
central nerve organ 10 discharge the organ, and
The Indians then cross in safety.
Another electric fish Is the torpedo, fiat fish
closely allied [ the family Of skates and rays,
and often termed the electric ray. / have caught
many of these in the waters surrounding Key
West Fla, and in the West Indies The urchins
OF Key West frequently catch them and take
great delight I'm persuading unsuspecting tour
lists 20 touch them in order 10 the fish jump,
with the result that the tourist generally does
The jumping.
This animal is the only one with electric or
gans which exercise all the other known powers
OF electricity; they render The needle magnetic,
decompose chemical compounds and emit the
spark.
The animal sometimes attains TO a width OF
from two three feet, and specimens of that
size are competent 10 disable by single dis
charge a full-grown man. The creature has two
batteries which occupy the two spaces between
the pectoral fms. the head and gills Each bat
terry consists OF quantity Of prisms which vary
in number nom four hundred TO upward Of one
thousand. depending upon the age Of the animal.
According 10 observation The upper surface OF
the fish IS positive and the abdominal surface
negative. The animal iustinctively eevates or ar
ranges its margin 10 adjust the direction
Of its currents 10 the position Of the object
Through which Il wishes 10 pass them. 1t gives
q number OF intermittent discharges. which it
can keep up for several minutes which time is
long enough TO enable II to stun kill small
zlsh IN its neighborhood which IT is then able
20 eat al its leisure II is also sufficient 10 pro-
vide a formidable weapon for defence from the
attacks OF enemies who might theTHise prey
must complete the galVanic circuit by touching
fhe animal attacked AZ two distinct points either
directly or through the medium Of some con-
ducting body. II is said that a painful sensation
may be produced by a discharge conveyed
Through the medium OF q stream Of water"
THE cANNIBALs SPARED HIS LIFE.
missionary Of a very adventurous disposition