Class IV. BASKING SHARK. toi 



of the back fins, diftinguifhing it at once from the 

 reft of the Britijh fharks. 



The nofe is long, and extends greatly beyond the De scrip. 

 mouth, but is blunt at the end. 



The teeth are difpofed in two rows, are fmall 

 and Iharp, and bend from the middle of each jaw 

 towards the corners of the mouth. 



The firft back fin is placed nearer the head than 

 the tail -, the other is fituated very near the latter. 



The tail is finned for a confiderable fpace be- 

 neath, and the upper part is much the longed. 



The back is of a brownifh alli color ; the belly- 

 white. 



It grows to the weight of about twenty pounds. 



This fpecies fwarms on the coafts of Scotland^ 

 where it is taken, fplit and dried : and is a food 

 among the common people. It forms a fort of in- 

 ternal commerce, being carried on women's backs, 

 fourteen or fixteen miles up the country, and fold % 

 or exchanged for neceflaries. 



** With the anal fin, 



S qy ALUS maximus. Sodden- Gunner Act. Nidros, III. 41. Basking 



tibus caninis, pinna dor- 33. Tab. II. 



fali anteriore majore. Syji, Sun-fifh. S?nith^s hifi. Cork, 



nat, 400. 11. 292. Hift. Waterford^ 



Brugden. Squalus maximus. 271. 



T 



HIS fpecies has been long known to the 



inhabitants of the fouth and weft of Ireland 



H 3 and 



