40 THOSE OTHER ANIMALS. 



The shark, like the'elephant, is of a timid disposition, and 

 is cautious and wary in its approaches. All observers are 

 agreed that it is always attended by two pilot fishes, who act 

 the same part as that wrongly assigned to the jackal in 

 reference to the lion going on ahead to examine any likely 

 object, and returning to inform the shark whether it is of an 

 eatable nature. The splashing of oars, or even of the arms 

 and legs of a swimmer, will often deter the shark from 

 making an attack, and there is every reason to believe that 

 if swimmers in tropical waters would always carry with 

 them three or four hand grenades, they would have little 

 occasion to fear interference from him. It is strange that 

 so obvious a precaution should be generally neglected. 

 The inability of the shark to seize its victim without 

 turning itself first upon its back must be a serious in- 

 convenience to it, and a swimmer with sufficient presence 

 of mind to await its coming, and then when it turns to 

 dive suddenly under it, can baffle the rush of a shark, 

 just as a man can avoid the charge of an enraged bull by 

 coolness and activity. Man's aversion to the shark here 

 stands greatly in his way, few swimmers when attacked 

 possessing sufficient coolness and presence of mind to carry 

 the manoeuvre into successful effect, although many possess 

 nerve enough to await without flinching the onset of the most 

 formidable of terrestrial animals. Did we know more of the 

 domestic habits of the shark, and learn to appreciate the 

 virtues that he probably possesses, there can be little doubt 

 that the unreasoning aversion felt towards him would be 

 largely mitigated, and we should come to make due allow- 

 ance for the pressure of hunger that at times operates to 

 our own disadvantage. 



