348 THE REASON WHY 



" Increasing still the terrors of these storms, 

 His jaws horrific arm'd with threefold fate, 

 Here dwells the direful shark. Lured by the scent 

 (X steaming crowds, of rank disease, and death." THOMSONS 



placed on the lower surface of the body at some distance from the 

 extremity of the snout. 



1129. Why are sharks said to follow in the wake of ships 

 on board which there may be sick people? 



Sharks instinctively follow ships, with the object of picking 

 up refuse matters which are constantly being thrown overboard. 



The well-known voracity of the shark the manner in which it 

 seizes upon the body of man alive or dead gives it an ominous 

 aspect when following in the wake of a ship having a sick crew. 

 And hence has arisen the popular error, that sharks follow ships, 

 waiting for dead bodies to be thrown overboard. 



1130. Why have the eggs of sharks and 

 rays long filamentous processes attached 

 to them ? 



For the purpose of attaching the eggs to 

 tea-iveeds, so that they may not be damaged 

 by being beaten on the shores, nor preyea 

 upon by crustaceous animals. Each egg con- 

 sists of a horny case, filled with a nutritious 

 fluid. The empty cases are frequently found 

 by the sea-side, and aje commonly called 

 mermaids' purses. 



1131. Why have the rays, and kindred 

 fishes, long tails armed with spines f 



These organs, as well as being used for 

 propulsion, are employed as weapons of 

 defence, and from the muscular strength of 

 the fish, are very formidable when seized or 

 terrified : its habit is to twist its long and 

 flexible tail rouml the object of attack, and, 

 with the serrated spine, tear the surface, 

 lacerating it in an effective manner. 



