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Show [ 20 l .So, when with brifHing plun1es the Bird of JovE Vindiaive leaves the argent fields above, 205 and kill any man who approaches them in an hofl:ile manner. It is not only to efcape its enemies that this furprizing power of the fifh is ufed, but alfo to take its prey; which it does by benumbing them, and then devouring them before they have time to recover, or by perfcCl:Iy killing them; for the quantity of the power feemed to be determined by the will or anger of the animal; as it fometimes fl:ruck a fifh tw1ce before it w:1s fuffici ently benumbed to be eafily fwallowed. The organs productive of this wonderful accumulation of electric matter have been accurately di!lcCl:ed and defcribed by Mr. J. Hunter. Philof. Tranf. Vol. LXV. They :1re fo divided by membr::~ncs as to compofc a very extenfive furface, and are fupplicd with many pairs of nerves larger than any other nerves of the body; but how fo,large a quantity is fo quickly accumulated as to produce fuch amazing effects in a fluid ill adapted for the purpofe is not yet fatisfactafily explained. The Torpedo poffcffes a fimilar power in a Jcfs degree, as was !hewn by Mr. Walch, and another fiih lately defcribed by Mr. Paterfon. Philof. Tranf. Vol. LXXVI. In the conflruCl:ion of the Leyden-Phial, (as it is called) which is coated on both fides, it is known, that above one hundred times the quantity of pofitive cleCl: ricity can be condenfed on every fqu::~re inch of the coating on one fid e, than could have been accumulated on the fame furface if there had been no oppofite coating communicating with the earth ; becaufe the negative electricity, or that part of it which caufed its ex.panfion, is now drawn offthrough the glafs. It is alfo well known, th:lt the thinner the glafs is (which is thus coated on both ftdes fo as to make a Leyden-phial, or plate) the more eleCl:ricity can be condeofed on one of its furf:1ces, till it becomes fo thin as to Break, and thence Jifcharge itfelf. Now it is poilible, that the quantity of electricity conclenfible on one fide of a coated _phial may increafe in fome hi ; h ratio in refpett to the thinnefs of the glafs, fince the power of attraCtion is known to clecreafe as the fquarcs of the difl:::~nces, to which ~his circumtlance of electricity feems to bear fome a11alogy. Hence if an anim:1l membrane AS thin as the filk-worm fpins its ftlk, could be fo fttuated as to be charged like the Leyden bottle, without burO.ing, (as fuch thin glafs would be liable to do,) it would be difficult to calculate the immenfe quantity of deehic fluid, which might be accumulated on its furface. No land animals are yet difcovered which polfefs this power, though the air would have been a much better medium for producing its effcCl:s ; perhaps the Gze of the neceffary apparatus would have been inconvenient to land animals.. [ 21 ] Borne on broad wings the guilty world he awes, And grafps the lightening in his ihining claws. V. 1. " NYMPHS I YOUR [oft fmiles uncultur' d man fubdued, And charm'd the Savage from his native wood; You, while amazed his hurrying I-Iords retire From the fell havoc of devouring FIRE, 210 In his jhining claws. I. 208. Alluding to an antique gem in the collection of the Grand Duke of Florence. Spence. Of devouring fire. l. 212. The firll and moll important difcovery of mankind feems to have been that of fire. For many ages it is probable fire was efl:eemed a dangerous enemy, known only by its dreadful devafl:ations; and that many lives mufl: have been lofl:, and many dangerous burns and wounds mufl: have afflicted thofe who firfl: d:ued to fubjcct it to the ufes of life. It is faid that the tall monkies of Borneo and _Sumatra lie down with pleafure round any accidental fire in their woods; and arc arnved to that degree of reafon, that knowledge of caufation, that they thrufl: into the remaining fire the half-burnt ends of the branches to prevent its going out. One of the nobles of the .cultivated people of Otaheita, when Captain Cook treated them with tea~ catc~ed the boiling water in his hand from the cock of the tea-urn, and bellowed w1th pa111, not conceiving that water could become hot, like red fire. Tools of fl:ecl confli tute another important difcovery in confequence of fire; and contributed perh::~ps principally to give the European nations fo great fup~riority over the Americ::~n world. By thefe two agents, fire and tools of fleel, mankind became able to cope with the vegetable k~ngdom, and conquer provinc~s of forefl:s, which i~1 uncultivated countries almofl: exclude the growth of other veget~bles, and of thole animals which are necc!fary to our cxifl:ence. Add to this, th.lt the quantity of our food is alfo increafed by the ufc of fire, for fome vegetables become falutary food by means of the heat t&d in cookery, which are natur•1lly either noxious or difficult of |
