CHAP. VI. COMBAT WITH A SHARK. 203 



for the dog-fish of the sailors truly belong to this 

 race, although, from their small size, they prey only 

 upon the lesser marine animals : but those of tropical 

 latitudes are far different. The very aspect of a shark's 

 tooth (fig. 61.) is sufficient 

 to give a terrific idea of 

 its use ; it seems of a form 

 compounded between that 

 of a lancet and a very fine 

 saw : of these there are 

 from three to six rows in 

 each jaw ; and the animal 

 has the power of raising 

 or depressing them at pleasure. The white shark 

 (Squalus Carcharias Lin.) is one of the most formi- 

 dable; but the species, as before observed, are very 

 numerous. One anecdote will be sufficient to illus- 

 trate the savage nature of these monsters: it is re- 

 lated by Hughes, the well-known and esteemed au- 

 thor of the Natural History of Barbadoes. " In the 

 reign of queen Anne, a merchant ship arrived at that 

 island from England : some of the crew, ignorant of 

 the danger of the recreation, were bathing in the sea, 

 when a large shark appeared, and swam directly to- 

 wards them : being warned of their danger, however, 

 they all hurried on board, where they arrived safe, ex- 

 cept one poor fellow, who was bit in two by the shark, 

 almost within reach of the oars. A comrade and in- 

 timate friend of the unfortunate victim, when he ob- 

 served the severed trunk of his companion, vowed his 

 revenge. The voracious monster was seen traversing 

 the bloody surface of the waves, in search of the re- 

 mainder of his prey, when the brave youth plunged 

 into the water. He held in his hand a long sharp- 

 pointed knife ; and the rapacious animal pushed furi- 

 ously towards him. He had turned on his side, and 

 opened his enormous jaws, when the youth, diving 

 dexterously, seized the shark with his left hand, some- 

 where below the upper fins, and stabbed him repeatedly 



