BLUE SHARK. 31 



especially to the credit which this fish has obtained for the 

 exercise of intense love for its offspring, which is in remarkable 

 contrast to the ferocity it exhibits towards the other inhabitants 

 of the deep; and for the manner in which it is supposed to 

 have displayed it, as described in the following translation of 

 the Greek poem by Oppian, on fish and fishing: 



"Others, when aught disturbs the ravaged seas, 

 And trembling young their conscious fears express, 

 Extend their jaws, and shew the safer way: 

 The frighted stragglers soon the call obey, 

 Within the concave roof uninjured rest, 

 Safe as the chirper in his mossy nest. 

 Thus the Blue Sharks, secure from chasing foes, 

 Within their widen'd mouths their young enclose. 

 Beneath the circling arch they fearless hide, 

 Tho' bulky forms drive on the rising tide. 

 Of all oviparous kinds that throng the seas, 

 The fond Blue Sharks in tender care surpass. 

 They near their fondlings, like some careful nurse, 

 Observe their motions and restrain their course, 

 Eye every wave, and shew the doubtful way, 

 Teach where to hunt, and where to find their prey. 

 When big with secret guilt the waters heave, 

 They in their mouths their shelter'd young receive. 

 But when the waves at their own leisure roll, 

 And no fierce robber drives the scatter'd shoal, 

 Again the parent's pointed jaws compress'd 

 By force expel them from their pleasing rest." 



Oppian, Hal., b. i. 



A method of taking this or a kindred species is thus described: 



"When fishers meet the Shark's rapacious young, 

 Loos'd from its oar the tatter'd rope is flung 

 Unarm'd below; th' imprudent wanton flies 

 With eager jaws, and grasps the worthless prize. 

 Hooks ev'n the prey supplies; with numerous chains 

 His teeth recurve the entangled flax retains. 

 Easy the fisher's toil; the slave self-bound, 

 Mounts on the barbed spears retentive wound." 



B. 5. 



Another Greek writer, ./Elian, who wrote about the same- 

 time with Oppian, but who cannot be regarded in any other 

 light than as an industrious and indiscriminate collector of frag- 

 ments which floated on the surface of society, repeats in humble 

 prose the same opinions regarding their affection for their young; 

 but he ascribes this affection to the father, and extends it also 

 to the Galeus, which is one that he supposes to keep generally 



