25 



CAECHAKTAS. 



The species have no spiracles or breathing orifices behind the eyes, 

 and have an anal fin. The first dorsal fin much before the ventrals, 

 and the second about opposite to the anal. A depression at the origin 

 of the upper lobe of the tail. The teeth are generally compressed and 

 cutting; usually serrated on the edge; but this can scarcely be taken 

 into the definition of the genus, since one or two species are without 

 it, that in all other respects agree with the others. 



Carcharias is the Greek name of some kind of the larger Sharks. 



WHITE SHARK. 



Squalus carcharias. Linn^us and Cuvier. 



Canis carcharias, Lamia and Tiburo of Authors; Artedi. 



" " JoNSTON; Articuhis 2, Punctiim 1. 



" ** WiLLOUGiiBY; p. 47. Cuvier rightly observes that 



Willoughby's figure, B 7, is not worthy of being 

 referi-ed to. This was copied among other "ill- 

 shaped fishes," from Gesner, who probably had 

 possessed a dried skin of the fish; and from 

 him again it was copied by Jonston. But 

 Cuvier has overlooked a figure in the appendix, 

 tab. 5, f. 1, which Willougbby had copied from 

 that accurate Dutch traveller, John Nieuhofs; 

 and which, except at the end of the tail, affords 

 a very tolerable figure of the species we have 

 to describe. Bisso; Icthyologie, p. 25. 



That more than one, or even two species, have been 

 confounded together under the name of the White Shark, is 

 ahnost certain. It seems remarkable also that no trustworthy 

 figure and description are to be found, of a species which is 

 seen in abundance in the West Indies; where it is the dread 

 of sailors, who are in constant fear of becoming its prey when 

 they bathe or fall into the sea. That it sometimes wanders 

 into the British Channel there is much evidence to shew. In 



VOL. 1. E 



