LETTER VII. i8t 



Tail bit, or cut off, it would foon grow again to 

 its ufual length, but when it had grown about 

 two inches or lefs of the length, I could per- 

 ceive plainly a thin Skin or Film (of the colour of 

 a Spider's Web and almoft as thin) coming all o- 

 ver out of that hinder part -, and as that Skin or 

 Film was no where elfe about its Body, I 'looked 

 upon it as if Nature defigned it for a firft Coat to 

 cover the other Skin whilft it was young and ten- 

 der, but which was to drop off, as foon as that 

 became hardened enough to do its office with- 

 out fuch affiftance. I never met with this obfer- 

 vation in any Author j but I frequently took par- 

 ticular notice of it, and told my thoughts to fome 

 of my Acquaintance, who did not feem to won- 

 der much at it. It is impofible for me to guefs 

 how long this new part of the Tail might be in 

 growing to its ufual length, becaufe we there have 

 no Lizards kept tame. 



37. Sir Hans SIoa?i in his Natural Hiflory of 

 Jamaicay tells us how ravenous a Creature the 

 Shark Fifli is, but that it is forced to turn upon 

 its Back before it can feize its prey, which gives 

 opportunity to other Fiihes to efcape its fury. 

 And I muft take leave to affure you (as an obfer- 

 vation of my own) That as foon as he feizes it, 

 in turning himfelf upon his Belly to fwim away he 

 gives his whole Body fuch a violent twift as would 

 wrench off the Limb of a Giant^ and that with- 



M 3 out 



