528 



SHARKS AND RAYS. 



near the extremity of the muzzle, as well as in the backward position of the small 

 first dorsal fin, which does not reach to the level of the highest point of the back, 

 instead of standing immediately above it. Moreover, instead of being subcylindrical, 

 the whole body of this shark is markedly depressed and the huge mouth forms a 

 nearly oblong aperture, and is armed with bands of very small and numerous 

 teeth. The sides of the tail bear a well-defined keel, and the lower lobe of the 

 caudal fin is well developed. In its varied coloration this fish differs markedly 

 from the majority of sharks, being ornamented with buff spots and stripes upon a 

 dark ground. Although probably widely distributed within the tropics, this 



INDO-PACIFIC BASKING-SHARK (^ nat. size). 



monster has hitherto been met with but locally. For many years the sole evidence 

 of its existence rested upon a specimen, 15 feet long, brought ashore in Table Bay 

 in April 1828, which fell into the hands of the late Sir Andrew Smith, who 

 described and figured it. This specimen was preserved by a French taxidermist, 

 who sold it to the Paris Museum, where it still remains. Forty years later, in 

 1868, Dr. Perceval Wright, whilst staying at the Seychelles, met with this shark, 

 and obtained the first authentic information about it. It does not seem to be rare 

 in that archipelago, but is very seldom obtained on account of its large size and the 

 difficulties attending its capture. Dr. Wright saw specimens which exceeded 

 50 feet in length, and one that was actually measured proved to be more than 

 45 feet long. Nothing more was heard of the species until January 1878, in 



