Class IV. BASKING SHARK. 103 



the Hebrides in the month of June, in fmall droves 

 of feven or eight ; but oftener in pairs. They 

 continue in thofe feas, till the latter end of Jufy 9 

 when they difappear. 



They had nothing of the fierce and voracious na- 

 ture of the (hark kind, and were fo tame as to fuf- 

 fer themfelves to be ftroked : they generally lay mo- 

 tionlefs on the furface, commonly on their bellies, 

 but fometimes, like tired fwimmers, on their backs. 



Their food feemed to confift entirely of fea Foou. 

 plants, no remains of fifh being ever difcovered in 

 the ftomachs of numbers that were cut up, except 

 fome green ftuff, the half digefted parts of alga y 

 and the like. Linnaus fays, it feeds on medufa. . 



At certain times they were feen fporting on the 

 waves, and leaping with vaft agility feveral feet out 

 of the water. They fwim very deliberately, with the 

 dorfal fins above water. 



Their length was from three to twelve yards* 

 and fometimes even longer. 



Their form was rather (lender, like others of the 

 ftiark kind. 



The upper jaw was much longer than the lower, 

 and blunt at the end. The mouth placed beneath, 

 and each jaw furnifhed with numbers of fmall 

 teeth : thofe before were much bent, thofe more 

 remote in the jaws were conic and fharp pointed. 



On the fides of the neck were five, large tranf- 

 verfe apertures to the gills. 



On the back were two fins \ the firft very large, 

 H 4 not; 



