The Cretaceous Seas 171 



gleam in the light, they are sharp as razors." 

 "See how many different forms of teeth in differ- 

 ent parts of the mouth." "Yes dear I remember 

 that in the mouth of one I sent to Munich in 1882, 

 from the Kansas Chalk Dr. Eastman found 

 twenty-five synonyms, or species that had been 

 described from loose teeth. Watch, there are sev- 

 eral other big sharks coming to the assistance of 

 the one who is after the Portheus. We will hoist 

 the sail and try and keep pace with the battle, 

 that surges westward, watch the rudder Maud 

 while I loosen the main sail! It bellied to the 

 strengthening breeze, urging on our ship with 

 increasing speed until we were again among 

 them. The Portheus now swimming for life was 

 the foci of the sharks, that were coming to the 

 attack from all directions. One would dive under 

 the fish, and receive for his pains a stroke from 

 his powerful tail that would put him out of com- 

 mission, another would receive a thrust from 

 the sword like ray of the front fin. Undaunted, 

 others hurried up like a pack of wolves on a 

 wounded deer. Though many were wounded in 

 the fray our hero fish at last succumbed to num- 

 bers, who gashed his body with their lance-like 

 teeth, and the water was tinged with his life 

 blood; weaken and overpowered, he gradually 

 ceased struggling. The sharks gathered to the 

 feast. One however was so badly wounded by the 

 Portheus,, that he went to the oozy bottom with 

 him. I have preserved in the Museum of the 



