THE SHARK. 271 



bility, and which is met with to a great degree 

 in all cold-blooded animals, is well exemplified 

 in the shark, which perhaps possesses it to a 

 greater degree than other kinds of fish. I have 

 seen a shark transfixed with a harpoon after it 

 had been hooked, so as to cause the viscera to 

 protrude ; it was hoisted on deck, when, after a 

 quarter of an hour had elapsed, the lower part 

 was separated from the upper ; (which detached 

 lower portion for a long time displayed great 

 powers of vitality ;) the head and upper portion 

 were afterwards thrown into the water, when the 

 pectoral fins were moved as in the action of 

 swimming. How long this irritability continued 

 I cannot say, (but from other instances that I 

 had seen, I should consider for a long period,) 

 as it soon went astern of the ship. I have fre- 

 quently seen the animal hauled on deck, the 

 whole of the viscera extracted, and the body other- 

 wise mangled when thrown overboard, swim for 

 some distance in this mutilated state. Again, 

 a shark has been hung up with the abdomen 

 ripped open, the whole of the viscera extracted, 

 and the head detached ; yet symptoms of vita- 

 lity, or rather muscular irritability, remained 

 for three hours from the time of its removal from 

 the water ; and this frequently occasions the 

 spectators to consider that the animal is in a 



