Class IV. A N G E L F I S H. 99 



Ray, feeds on flounders and flat fi(h, which keep 

 at the bottom of the water, as we have often found 

 on Opening theni. It is extremely fierce and dan- 

 gerous to be approached. We knew an inftance Fierceness, 

 of a fifherman, whofe kg was terribly tore by a 

 large one of this fpecieJ?, which lay within his nets 

 in fliallow water, and Which he went to lay hold 

 of incautioufly. 



The alped of thefe, as well as t1ie reft of the 

 genus have much malignity in them: their eyes are 

 oblong, and placed lengthways in their head, funk 

 in it, and overhung by the ikin, and feem fuller 

 of malevolence than fire. 



Their fl<.in is very rough ; the antients made ufe 

 of it to polilli wood and ivory *, as we do at pre- 

 fent that of the greater dog-filli. The flefli is now 

 but little efteemed on account of its eoarfenefs and 

 ranknefs, yet Archeftratus (as quoted by AthenceuSy 

 p. 319.) fpeaking of the fifli of Miletus^ gives this 

 the firft place in refpe6t to its delicacy of the whole 

 cartilaginous tribe. 



They grow to a great fize; we have ktv^ them Bescri?* 

 of near an hundred weight. 



The head is large, the teeth broad at their bafe, 

 but flender and very lliarp above, and difpofed in 

 five rows all round the jaws. Like thofe of all 

 Sharks, they are capable of being raifed or de- 

 prefTed by means of mufcles uniting them to the 



* Qua lignum et ebora poliantur, PJinii lih IX. e. 12. 



H 2 jaws 



