Class IV, ANGEL FISH. 99 



Ray, feeds on flounders and flat fi(h, which keep 

 at the bottom of the water, as we have often found 

 on opening them. It is extremely fierce and dan- 

 gerous to be approached. We knew an inftance Fierceness. 

 of a fifherman, whole leg was terribly tore by a 

 large one of this fpecies, which lay within his nets 

 in {hallow water, and which he went to lay hold 

 of incautioufly. 



The afpe£t of thefe, as well as die reft of the 

 genus have much malignity in them : their eyes are 

 oblong, and placed lengthways in their head, funk 

 in it, and overhung by the fkin, and feem fuller 

 of malevolence than fire. 



. Their fkin is very rough ; the antients made ufe 

 of it to polifh wood and ivory *, as we do at pre- 

 fent that of the greater dog-fifh. The fleih is now 

 but little efteemed on account of its coarfenefs and 

 ranknefs, yet Archeftratus (as quoted by Atbenaus % 

 p. 319.) (peaking of the filh of Miletus, gives this 

 the firft place in refpecl to its delicacy of the whole 

 cartilaginous tribe. 



They grow to a great fize-, we have feen them Descrip, 

 of near an hundred weight. 



The head is large, the teeth broad at their bafe, 

 but (lender and very iharp above, and difpofed in 

 five rows all round the jaws. Like thofe of all 

 Sharks, they are capable of being raifed or de- 

 prefied by means of mufcles uniting them to the 



* Qua lignum et ebora poliuntu*. Pit nil Uh, IX. c. 12. 



H 2 jaws 



