14 ENGLAND TO RIO DE JANEIRO CHAP, I 
windows following the ship. It immediately took a bait 
and was hauled on board. It proved to be the Squalus 
carcharias, Linn., and assisted us in clearing up much 
confusion, which almost all authors had made about that 
species. With it came on board four sucking-fish, Lcheneis 
remora, Linn., which were preserved in spirits. Although 
it was twelve o’clock before the shark was taken, we made 
shift to have a part of him stewed for dinner, and very 
good meat he was, at least in the opinion of Dr. Solander 
and myself, though some of the seamen did not seem to be 
fond of him, probably from some prejudice founded on the 
species sometimes feeding on human flesh. 
30th. This evening another Motacilla avida was brought 
to us; it differed scarcely at all from the first taken, except 
that it was somewhat larger; its head, however, gave us 
some material, by supplying us with nearly twenty specimens 
of ticks, which differed but little from Acarus ricinus, Linn. ; 
it was, however, described, and called Acarus motacille. 
1st October. Bonitos were in great plenty about the ship. 
We were called up early to see one that had been struck 
and found it to be the Scomber pelamis, Linn., a drawing 
being made of it. I confess, however, that I was a good 
deal disappointed, expecting to find the animal much more 
beautiful than it proved, though its colours were extremely 
lively, especially the blue lines on the back (which equalled 
at least any ultramarine), yet the name, and the accounts I 
had heard from all who had seen them, made me expect an 
animal of much greater variety of colour. This consisted 
merely of blue lines on the back, crossing each other, a 
changeable gold and purple on the sides, and white with 
black lines on the bottom of the sides and belly. After 
having examined and drawn the animal, we proceeded to 
dissect it, and in the course of the operation were much 
pleased by the infinite strength we observed in every part 
of him, especially the stomach, the coats of which were 
uncommonly strong, especially about the sphincter, or 
extremity by which the digested meat is discharged; this 
I suppose is intended to crush and render useful the scales 
