CLASS V. PISCES: ORDER 1. SELACIIIA. 



427 



TUB FOX-SHARK. 



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were found, and in another an entire bull's hide. Upon the latter a sailor remarked that the 

 fish had swallowed a bull, but could not digest the hide ! This species is connnou throughout 

 the Atlantic, especially the tropical portions of it, and is the scourge of the Mediterranean. 

 The Fox-Shark or Thresher, C. vulpes, is twelve to eighteen feet long, the tail nearly as long 



as the body ; it uses this mem- 

 ber for attacking other animals 

 by its powerful strokes. It is 

 said even to attack the whale in 

 this manner. It pursues shoals 

 of mackerel, mossbunkers, and 

 shad, and devours them in great 

 numbers. It is common on both 

 sides of the Atlantic. 



Other species are the Blue 

 Shark, C. ceruleus, noted for its affection for its young ; four to six feet long: the Dusky Shark, 

 C. obscurus^ and the Ground Shark, C. Uftoi-alis, five to eight feet long ; all found on both sides 

 of the Atlantic. 



Genus LAMNA : Lamna. — To this belongs the Porbeagle, L. Cornubica, six feet long, and de- 

 riving its name from a resemblance 

 of form to the porpoise. Common 

 in European seas. The Beaumaris 

 Shark, L. Monensis, is seven to 

 ten feet long, and found on the 

 British coasts. It is considered by 

 some as only a variety of the 

 preceding. 



The Mackerel Porbeagle, L. 



punctata, is six to ten feet long, 



and is often called J/ac^(?r<'^ Shark, 



from its habit of pursuing shoals of 



mackerel It produces a kind of oil much valued by curriers ; found along the coasts of New 



York, and more abundantly on those of Massachusetts. The Long-tailed Porbeagle, L. caudata, 



three to eight feet long, and is found on the coast of Long Island. 



Genus GALEUS : Galeus. — This includes the Penny Dog, G. vulgaris, called Tope and 

 Miller's Dog in England, six feet long, voracious and destructive ; it yields a valuable oil ; is 

 abundant on the coast of England in summer. 



Genus MUSTELUS : Mustelus. — To this belongs the Smooth Hound, M. Ijoevis, noted for the 



smoothness of its skin ; sometimes 

 called Ray-mouthed Dog ; two to 

 three feet long; takes bait, but 

 is less rapacious than other spe- 

 cies; common on the British 

 coasts. 



The American IIound-Fish, 

 M. caius, called Dog-Fish by 

 our fishermen, is two to four feet 

 long, feeds on Crustacea and sea-weed, and is found on the shores of Long Island. 



Genus SELACHUS: Selachus.—To this belongs the Basking Shark, S. maximus, twenty 

 to thirty-two feet in length ; one of the largest of the shark family ; it derives its. name from a 

 habit of basking lazily in the sun ; in England it is sometimes called Sun-Fish and Sail-Fish. 

 It is often seen gliding along with its dorsal fin and upper jaw out of water, and has occasionally 

 been taken for the sea-serpent. It is not voracious or dangerous. Found in the northern seas 

 on both sides of the Atlantic. 



THE PORBEAGLE. 



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THE SMOOTH HOOND. 



