SELACHE 101 



Zygcena Tiburo, belonging to this family, hav- 

 ing warty spots, is also occasionally taken by the 

 fishermen, — dried specimens of which may be 

 found in the museums. The color is much like 

 the one in the preceding article, though, if any- 

 thing, the head is sharper — and the skin, be- 

 tween the pectoral fins, near the region of the 

 branchiae, is of a clear white, — shading into a 

 yellowish tinge towards the tail. 



GEN. SELACHE. 



Basking Shark, — Selache Maximus. Be- 

 tween the head and body, there is not a good 

 proportion, — the first being comparatively small 

 and snake like. When the branchial openings 

 are thrown asunder, from running almost round 

 the neck, they give the animal the appearance of 

 having its throat cut by several deep incisions. 

 The color of the skin is nearly that of sheet lead ; 

 — one large dorsal fin, shaped like a ploughshare, 

 rises on the back ; — the teeth are small and sharp, 

 and in vast numbers. On this coast, they have 

 been captured, measuring thirty feet, usually the 

 harpoon is the surest method of securing them. 



A few years since, at the time the appearance 

 of the sea-serpent produced so much excitement 

 in the vicinity of Gloucester, a party of gentlemen 

 from Boston, armed for successful combat, with 



