490 HISTORY OF 



Fish, the Monk Fish, the Dog Fish, the Basking Shark, the 

 Zygajna, the Tope, the Cat Fish, the Blue Shark, the Sea Fox, 

 the Smooth Hound Fish, and the Porbeagle. These are all of 

 the same nature, and differ more in size, than in figure or eon- 

 formation. 



The next division is that of flat fish ; and these their broad, 

 flat, thin shape, is sufficiently capable of distinguishing from all 

 others of this kind. They may be easily distinguished also from 

 spinous flat fish, by the holes through which they breathe, which 

 ai"e uncovered by a bone ; and which, in this kind, are five on 

 each side. In this tribe we may place the Torpedo, the Skate, 

 the Sharp-nosed Ray, the Rough Ray, the Thornback, and tlie 

 Fire Flare. 



The third division is that of the slender snake-shaped kind ; 

 such as the Lamprey, the Pride, and the Pipe-fish. 



The fourth division is that of the Sturgeon atid its variety, 

 the Ising-glass Fish. 



The last division may comprise fish of different figures and 

 natures, that do not rank under the former divisions. These 

 are the Sun Fish, the Tetrodon, the Lump Fish, the Sea Snail, 

 the Chimiera, and the Fishing Frog. Each of these has some- 

 what peculiar in its powers or its forms, that deserves to be re- 

 marked. The description of the figures of these at least may 

 compensate for our general ignorance of the rest of their history. 



CHAP. II. 



OF CARTILAGINOUS FISHES OF THE SHARK KIND.* 



Of all the inhabitants of the deep, those of the shark Kind 

 are the fiercest and the most voracious. The smallest of this 



* About thirty species of sharks have been distinguished, of wliicti twelve 

 have been seen on the British coasts. Some, from pursuing their prey in 

 concert, are called sea-dog-s, hounds, and beagles. We may here particu. 

 larize the Blue Shark, the Basking Shark, and the Angel Shark. 



The Blue Shark. — The back of this shark is blue; the belly white. Ni» 

 orifices are to be seen behind the eye, as is usual with fish of tbis genus. 

 Two white membranes, one to each eye, perform the olhce of eye-liiis 

 When the head vviis placed downu ards, a pretty large white pouch cam 



