98 



The Shark 



usefulness, it seems well worth while inserting a little 

 truth. Which is what I propose to do. 



Let it be admitted at the outset that the Shark is 

 not beautiful. In colour, no matter what branch of the 

 Squalidae may be represented, there is always an absence 

 of any tint pleasing to the eye. A dirty grey or dirty 

 slate colour alternating with livid white is the prevailing 

 shade of the Shark, and even the stripes of the Tiger 

 Shark are not, as one might suppose, of the deep rich 

 colour of the animal from which the name is taken. 

 As to shape, the same strictures may apply. Unbeauti- 

 ful in any case must be the verdict, most emphatically 

 so when we come to the Raiidae, or Skate branch of the 

 great family. 



Then all Sharks have a sinister, villainous appear- 

 ance from the shape and position of their jaw, and the 

 cold deadly expression in their eyes. Especially is this 

 the case with the least known of the family such as the 

 Thresher, and the Sawfish (Pristis). One of the most 

 awful-looking of ocean monsters, although I believe 

 quite harmless to man, belongs to the Raiidae, the 

 Giant Skate or ' alligator guard ' of the Mexican Gulf, 

 known locally by the sinister sobriquet of Piscau del 

 Diablo, or devil-fish. And as if all these disadvantages 

 were not sufficient to load the poor creature with, 

 hundreds of yams have been invented, pubhshed, and 

 incorporated in authentic natural histories concerning 

 the Shark, of which it is only stating the barest fact to 

 say that not one per cent, of them have a grain of truth 

 in them. 



Let it be admitted also as part of the indictment 

 of the Shark, that he is an eater of human flesh, and 

 does not always wait until the subject is dead. But 

 what fish is not ? It cannot be too clearly understood 

 that all fish are omnivorous as regards flesh or fish. 



