SHARKS AND RAYS. 235 



Its teeth are long, sharp and awl-like. 



The Tiger Shark: This powerful and dangerous 

 Shark, roams the oceans freely from India, to Australia. 

 During the summer season, large numbers abound on the 

 eastern coast of Australia, where they enter the bays and 

 harbours, "seeking whom they may devour." Every year 

 a good many are captured in the lower waters of Port Jack- 

 son. The largest specimen captured on the coast of New 

 South Wales that has come under my notice, measured 13 

 feet 6 inches; but a length of 16 feet (or even more) is 

 not unknown. 



In this species the serrated teeth are oblique, have one 

 large pointed cusp, and have a deep notch in one side. 



The Fox-Shark : This species is very widely-distri- 

 buted, being found pretty generally throughout the tem- 

 perate and tropical seas of both hemispheres. It is quite 

 common in Australian seas, keeping to the open coastal 

 waters. It attains a length of about 15 feet; of which the 

 long, blade-like tail, forms nearly one half. It is not known 

 to be dangerous to Man. Though it is often seen to be 

 attacking Whales and other large cetaceans, it feeds prin- 

 cipally upon the smaller teleostean fishes. When feeding, 

 it is said to swim round and round in gradually diminish- 

 ing circles, splashing the water with its tail, and keeping its 

 prospective victims so crowded together, that they form an 

 easy prey. 



The Grey-Nurse: This is a very formidable Shark, 

 attaining a large size and occurring in many waters. At 

 times these "wolves of the sea" rove along the eastern 

 shores of Australia at least, in thousands ; freely entering 

 \he harbours. 



The teeth are long, sharp and awl-like, with a small 

 cusp on each side at the base. 



The Basking Shark: This Shark attains huge dimen- 

 sions and is one of the largest fishes existing, reaching a 

 length of 40 feet. 



In this species, the teeth are small, very numerous and 

 tonical in shape, without serrations. The five gill-slits on 

 each side are of great length. 



It subsists upon small fishes, crustaceans, and other 



