FAMILY CARCHARIDJE; WHITE SHARK, FOX SHARK. 37 



lar flat grinders. The recent species is found in the Eastern 

 seas, especially about the coasts of Australia. 



588. In the CARCHARID.E, or True Sharks, to which we 

 now come, the spiracles, which exist in the preceding families, 

 are wanting, the dorsal fins are destitute of spines, and the an- 

 terior one is placed nearly as far forward as the pectorals, whilst 

 the tail is usually very unsymmetrical. Of the true Sharks, 

 there are several species, of which the White Shark is the most 

 notorious. It sometimes attains the length of twenty-five or 

 thirty feet, and its mouth is sufficiently wide to enable it to 

 receive the thigh or even the body of a Man. This species 

 inhabits most of the seas of warm latitudes ; but it is rarely or 

 never seen near our own shores. The Fox Shark, or Thresher, 



FIG. 370. Fox SHARK. 



is remarkable for the great development of the upper lobe of the 

 caudal fin, into which the vertebral column is prolonged, this 

 being nearly as long as the entire body. This Fish is occasionally 

 met with on our own coasts, and sometimes attains the entire 

 length of from twelve to fifteen feet. Its gape is not so wide, nor 

 are its teeth so formidable in proportion to its size, as those of 

 the preceding; but its tail is a powerful weapon, and it is 

 exceedingly bold and voracious in its disposition. It has been 

 stated on good authority, that it is not uncommon for a Thresher 

 to approach a herd of Dolphins which may be sporting in unsus- 

 picious security, and by one splash of its tail to put them all to 

 flight, like so many hares before a hound ; yet the Dolphin is 

 six times the bulk of the Thresher. The Blue Shark bears more 

 resemblance to the White in its general form, but is much smaller, 

 not exceeding six or seven feet in length. It is very common off 



