I 4 ENGLAND TO RIO DE JANEIRO CHAP, i 



windows following the ship. It immediately took a bait 

 and was hauled on board. It proved to be the Sgualus 

 carcharias, Linn., and assisted us in clearing up much 

 confusion, which almost all authors had made about that 

 species. With it came on board four sucking-fish, Ucheneis 

 remora, Linn., which were preserved in spirits. Although 

 it was twelve o'clock before the shark was taken, we made 

 shift to have a part of him stewed for dinner, and very 

 good meat he was, at least in the opinion of Dr. Solander 

 and myself, though some of the seamen did not seem to be 

 fond of him, probably from some prejudice founded on the 

 species sometimes, feeding on human flesh. 



30th. This evening another Motacilla avida was brought 

 to us ; it differed scarcely at all from the first taken, except 

 that it was somewhat larger ; its head, however, gave us 

 some material, by supplying us with nearly twenty specimens 

 of ticks, which differed but little from Acarus ricinus, Linn. ; 

 it was, however, described, and called Acarus motacillce. 



1st October. Bonitos were in great plenty about the ship. 

 We were called up early to see one that had been struck 

 and found it to be the Scomber pelamis, Linn., a drawing 

 being made of it. I confess, however, that I was a good 

 deal disappointed, expecting to find the animal much more 

 beautiful than it proved, though its colours were extremely 

 lively, especially the blue lines on the back (which equalled 

 at least any ultramarine), yet the name, and the accounts I 

 had heard from all who had seen them, made me expect an 

 animal of much greater variety of colour. This consisted 

 merely of blue lines on the back, crossing each other, a 

 changeable gold and purple on the sides, and white with 

 black lines on the bottom of the sides and belly. After 

 having examined and drawn the animal, we proceeded to 

 dissect it, and in the course of the operation were much 

 pleased by the infinite strength we observed in every part 

 of him, especially the stomach, the coats of which were 

 uncommonly strong, especially about the sphincter, or 

 extremity by which the digested meat is discharged ; this 

 I suppose is intended to crush and render useful the scales 



