276 ANGEL SHARK. 



the Shark is sometimes eaten on long- voyages, and in the 

 absence of better food. Its skin is manufactured into 

 shagreen, a kind of substance chiefly used for the covering 

 of instrument cases. 



The eyes of these animals are large, and the back is 

 broad and flat. The pectoral fins are very large ; and 

 the tail is somewhat crescent-shaped, but longer in the 

 upper than the lower part. The teeth are triangular, and 

 serrated at the edges. The White Sharks have an anal 

 fin. The whole body and fins are of a light or bluish 

 ash colour. 



Dog-fish. So voracious are these animals, that they 

 are frequently known to follow ships to a great distance, 

 for the purpose of feeding on anything eatable which is 

 thrown overboard, and which they seize with astonishing 

 avidity. They also pursue the shoals of haddocks, 

 whitings, and cod, for the purpose of feeding upon them. 

 They abound in almost all seas. 



Their usual length is from three to four feet. The 

 nose is short and blunt ; and the nostrils are large, placed 

 near the mouth, and each covered with an angular flap. 

 The head is flat. The mouth contains four rows of small 

 teeth. The upper parts of the body are brown, marked 

 with several large black spots. The under parts are 

 white. 



Angel Shark, or Monk-fish. The name of Angel Shark 

 has, no doubt, been given to this fish ironically, on ac- 

 count of its extreme deformity. In its habits of feeding 

 it resembles the rays, as it chiefly subsists on flounders, 

 and other kinds of ground-fish. It is a very fierce and 

 dangerous animal ; and in some cases has been known to 

 attack mankind. The skins of these fish, when put into 



