102 SCIUALIDES. 



that emperor of serpents, fell in, we have been 

 informed, in the course of their excursion, with 

 one of these harmless, lazy fishes. Its dimensions 

 were so colossal, as to induce some to believe, 

 by the aid of a little imagination, that this was the 

 mighty leviathan, which had been magnified into 

 a tremendous snake, one hundred feet long. The 

 existence, however, of such a creature as the ser- 

 pent has been described to be, by the most unob- 

 jectionable evidence, is proved as clearly and con- 

 clusively, as human testimony can establish any 

 truth. 



From a careful examination of the digestive or- 

 gans, there being an unusually long intestinal tube, 

 it is conceded by naturalists, that the basking shark 

 feeds on vegetable food entirely, and therefore, 

 unless unreasonably excited, is a peaceably dispos- 

 ed, harmless, inoffensive being. 



Beside the track of intestine^ within its calibre, 

 there is curious provision for retaining the con- 

 tents, till all the nutritious matter is completely 

 extracted. This consists of a valve, — or to 

 make it more clearly understood, the inner 

 plate is precisely like a winding stair-case, or the . 

 twist of a screw-auger ; thus, instead of passing 

 down freely, and unobstructed ; by this arrangement 

 of the screw, the food is kept rolling over a vast 

 surface of absorbent vessels. 



