THE SQUALUS GROENLANDICUS. 24/ 



derable resemblance to the dog-fish. The opening 1 of the 

 mouth, which extends nearly across the lower part of the 

 under surface, is from twenty-one to twenty-four inches in 

 width. The teeth are serrated in one jaw, and lancet- 

 shaped and denticulated in the other. On each side, there 

 are at least four or five rows, on one side so many as eight. 



The eyes constitute the most extraordinary part of this 

 animal. The pupil is of an emerald green colour ; whilst 

 the rest of the eye is blue. To the posterior edge of the 

 pupil is attached a white vermiform substance, one or two 

 inches in length. Each extremity of it consists of two 

 filaments ; but the central part is single. A representation 

 of this singular appendage is given in the engraving. 



The sailors imagine this shark to be blind, because it 

 pays not the least attention to the pi-esence of man ; and 

 is, indeed, so apparently foolish that it never draws itself 

 back when a blow is aimed at it either with a knife or 

 lance. We caught only one of these animals, which was 

 on the 10th of May, 1824. 



This shark annoys the whale exceedingly, and is one of 

 its greatest foes. It bites it when alive, and feeds upon it 

 when dead. And during the time the whalers are flensing 

 a whale it is not uncommon to perceive a number of these 

 animals in the neighbourhood, hence they frequently fall a 

 sacrifice to their voracity. 



It scoops large hemispherical pieces out of its body, 

 nearly the size of a person's head ; and continues scooping 

 and gorging lump after lump, until the whole cavity of its 

 belly is filled. 



According to one observed by Crantz, he describes it of 

 acinerous grey colour, but which had a silverish appearance 

 under water. The belly is of a much brighter and lighter 

 hue. The skin is very rough, as if it was covered with 

 coarse prickly grains of sand ; and it is used for rasping 

 and polishing wood, hence the sailors generally preserve 

 the best of it. The head, which is two feet long and 



