148 ARCTIC ZOOLOGY. 



to be described ; but 1 beg leave to refer the reader, for 

 the more minute ones, to the accurate work of Eabricius, 

 Fauna Gra^nlandica, where will be found interesting and 

 elegant descriptions of animals collected in the course of 

 many years* observation. 



One circumstance, however, I must not omit, as it offers 

 an explanation in natural history hitherto desired. A 

 species of squalus is to be met with in Davis's Strait, by 

 sailors called the blind shark, which is supposed to be- 

 an applicable name, from the temerity with which the 

 animal, regardless of his own safety, rushes to his prey. 

 This shark is about four feet in length, body dark blue, 

 shaded with brown on the sides, and is very steady and slow 

 in movement. A whale (B. M.) having been killed, and 

 made fast alongside the ship, the men being in the act of 

 Hinching, one of these sharks came up, and fastened on 

 the body, with a circular scoop cutting out the part seized, 

 and whilst so engaged, bore to be stabbed several times 

 by one of the ship-boys. The assertion, therefore, that 

 the shark turns on the back for the purpose of snapping 

 his prey is incorrect. That effect is produced by the 

 sweep in the circular revolution, by which the numerous 

 rows of the angular and edged teeth in the jaws of the 

 animal are brought into successive action. It is probable 

 that it was in observing the body of the shark up-turned 

 in this revolution that the error first arose. 



