420 



Fishes. 



them to attack and ultimately destroy each other ; but 

 the upper jaw of this devouring animal, is so constructed 

 as to offer, by its prominency, an impediment to the 

 Shark's easily seizing his prey; and consequently when 

 on the point of catching hold of anything, he is obliged 

 to turn on one side, which troublesome evolution often 

 gives the object of his pursuit time to escape. The 

 flesh of this fish is of a disagreeable taste, and cannot 

 be eaten with any kind of relish, except the part near 

 the tail. 



Twenty different species of this family are known, 

 and the number of different families of the Shark tribe 

 is very great. 



THE GKEENLAND SHARK, (Sdaclms maximus,) 



Is another very voracious species ; and one extremely 

 difficult to kill. It is the great enemy of the whale, 

 and devours the bodies of those left by the fishers. Its 

 teeth are very small, pointed, and numerous. The 

 snout is short. It is sometimes known as the Basking 

 Shark. 



THE DOG-FISHES 

 ARE so excessively voracious, that they are altogether 



