223 



I have a specimen in perfect health, which was captured at North 

 Harbour three weeks ago. They eat small worms and crumbs of 

 bread greedily when in confinement. 



'• I have sent a small specimen in spirits to accompany the draw- 

 ing. 



"George French Angas." 



5. Notes on Sharks, more particularly on two enormous 

 Specimens of Carcharias leucas, captured in Port 

 Jackson, Sydney, New South Wales. By Dr. George 

 Bennett, F.Z.S. 



Sharks are formidable for their strength and the numerous rows 

 of teeth with which their powerful jaws are armed ; these teeth, in- 

 clining backwards, prevent the prey, once swallowed, from readily 

 escaping without severe laceration, even if at all ; the teeth are slightly 

 moveable, which mobility, being merely to an erect position, renders 

 the escape of prey still more difficult. The stomachs of these fish 

 are found to contain a very mixed diet, some holding small fishes, 

 or flying squids ; others, paper, canvas, even tin pots, and ofFal of 

 every description cast overboard from ships, — the stomachs being 

 of enormous capacity, and, to judge from the contents and quantity 

 found in them, these fishes having enormous powers of digestion. 



As an article of food, a Shark is not considered good eating ; but 

 the flesh of a young one is preferable to that of many of the deep- 

 water fishes, and by some considered superior to that of Bonitos or 

 Albicores. The large Sharks are very coarse food : the liver in 

 every species yields a large quantity of oil. 



I have observed that if several Sharks are together, it is very 

 seldom that a Pilot-fish (Naucrates) is seen to accompany them ; 

 but a solitary Shark is rarely or never seen without being accom- 

 panied by one or more of the latter. On capturing a Shark which 

 was accompanied by Pilot-fish, by keeping the Shark in the water 

 until it was exhausted, or, as the sailors termed it, "drowned," the 

 Pilot-fish kept constantly about it ; and, by aid of the towing net 

 at the end of a long stick, I succeeded in capturing it as it swam 

 on the surface of the water. 



We find, as well in the Sharks as in all those kinds of fish which 

 have a prolonged snout, the mouth situated far underneath, and the 

 upper portion of the tail considerably lengthened, so that it may aid 

 them in turning readily round ; for this purpose also the eye-ball 

 revolves on a cartilaginous pedicle with a ball and socket joint, so 

 that they are capable of turning that organ in every direction to cap- 

 ture their prey. 



An enormous Shark {Carcharias leucas, Valenciennes) was lately 

 captured in Port Jackson by two boatmen, T. Mulhall and J. Rica, 

 who finding him ranging about the harbour, procured a harpoon and 

 went in chase of him. They succeeded in harpooning the monster, 

 who when struck ran away with a great length of line. Being tired, 



