107 



four, serrated on their edges, and capable 

 of being erected or depressed at pleasure, 

 owing to a curious muscular mechanism in 

 the palate and jaws of the animal. The 

 whole body and fins are of a light ash colour, 

 the skin rough, and often worked into that 

 substance called shagreen, an abbreviation of 

 the words " shark" and " green." His eyes 

 are large and staring, and he possesses great 

 muscular strength in his tail and fins. When- 

 ever he spies from the deepest recesses of the 

 sea, a man swimming or diving, he bolts from 

 the place, darts up to his prey, and if unable to 

 take the whole, or snatch away a limb, he fol- 

 lows for a long time the boat or vessel in which 

 the more expert swimmer has found a safe and 

 opportune retreat ; but seldom does he let any 

 one escape his cruel jaws and get off entire. A 

 late worthy member of the Court of Aldermen, 

 Sir Brook Watson, lost, when young, one of his 

 legs in the mouth of one of these monsters. 

 Some commentators of the book of Jonah, are 

 of opinion that it was this fish, and not the 

 whale, that swallowed the prophet. 



Had nature allowed this fish to seize on his 

 prey with as much facility as many others, the 



