THE THRESHER, OR FOX SHARK. 



211 



It is a magnificent fish, often attaining to a length of thirty-five or thirty-six feet. 

 It docs not appear, however, to be dangerous in proportion to its size, its teeth being 

 very small in proportion to its dimensions, and the only food found in its stomach 

 being the remains of crustaceans and probably of echini. 



The Basking Shark is not very uncommon on our shores, especially if westerly 

 winds have been prevailing. It seems to be of a rather dull and listless character, 

 allowing itself to be approached quite closely by a boat, without giving any signs of 

 alarm until the bow of the boat actually touches its person. Owing to this sluggard 

 mode of life, it can easily be harpooned, but then bursts into furious energy with 

 startling quickness, dives like lightning to a great depth, so as to require a very con- 



THRESHER, OR FOX SHARK.-A/opias wipes. 



BASKING SHARK. Cetorblaus maximus. 



siderable length of rope, and putting forth the vast powers that have been lying 

 dormant in the warm embraces of the sunbeams, like the might of Hercules m 

 Omphale's arms, dashes away with such speed, and plunges with such wrathful violence, 

 that its capture is an achievement of great difficulty and no small danger. 



The gill apertures of the Basking Shark are extremely long, reaching almost 

 across the neck. The head is conical, the muzzle short, and the eyes near the snout. 

 The skin is very rough to the touch, whether the hand be passed from head to tail or 

 rice versa, and the color is blackish brown, glossed with a bluish tint. 



THE lower figure is that of a well-known species, familiar under the names of 

 THRESHER, Fox SHARK, SEA Fox, and SEA APE. It is at once to be recognized by 

 the peculiar form of the head and the wonderfully long upper lobe of the tail, which equals 



