Occurrence of "Torpedo Marmorata" off the Coast of Cornwall

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 32; no. 818; p. 197
• Main Author: FRANCIS DAY
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 02-07-1885
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/032197a0

AMONG the fishes included in the British fauna, but whose title to this designation has been considered but doubtfully proved, is the Torpedo marmorata, or a form having the spiracles fringed at their edges. It is true that Pennant figures this species, but he omits to mention whether his example was from the British seas or brought from the French coast by Walsh; and subsequent authors on ichthyology are not sufficiently precise in their descriptions to enable one to judge of which form they are adverting to. All the specimens which I have seen in the various British museums have been of the cramp fish, with smooth-edged spiracles, T. nobiliana. On June 26 an example of T. marmorata was trawled in Mevagissey Bay, and obtained by Mr. Matthias Dunn, who most kindly sent it at once to me, and it arrived at Cheltenham on the evening of the 27th. It was a female, quite fresh, and weighed 3 lb. 10 oz.; its length was 17½ inches, and its breadth across the disk 12 inches. It contained two ova in an early stage of development.