An Object'-Lesson 1 13 



offering to put his finger in the mouth. I pulled him 

 away, and holding him by the arm, inserted a stick 

 of "wood an inch square into that quivering cavity. 

 Instantly the jaws closed, there was a grinding sound, 

 and the stick fell in two halves, bitten through as 

 cleanly as a horse bites a carrot. The boy had learned 

 his lesson. That Skate became the prey of the sailors, 

 who much appreciated him fried, and although we 

 had a fairly large crew there was enough meat on his 

 wings to give them a good supper and breakfast. 



Here we will leave the Sharks ; for, although I 

 have said practically nothing of the Dog Fish, I feel 

 that there is not really sufficient distinction between 

 them and the usual Shark to warrant any detailed 

 remarks about them. The Dog-fish is just a small 

 shark. 



