Class IV. BASKING SHARK. 1:0 



the Hebrides in the month of June^ in fmall droves 

 of feven or eight ; but oftener in pairs. They 

 continue in thofe feas, till the latter end of July^ 

 when they difappear. 



They had nothing of the fierce and voracious na- 

 ture of the fhark kind, and were fo tame as to fuf- 

 fler themfelves to be ftroked : they generally lay mo- 

 tionlefs on the furfacc, commonly on their bellies, 

 but fometimes, like tired fwimmers, on their backs. 



Their food feemed to confift entirely of fea Foob. 

 plants, no remains of fifh being ever difcovered in 

 the ftomachs of numbers that were cut up, except 

 fome green fluff, the half digefted parts of alg^^ 

 ^nd the like. Linnaus fays, it feeds on meduf(^. 



At certain times they were feen fporting on the 

 waves, and leaping with vaft agility feveral feet out 

 of the water. They fwim very deliberately, with the 

 dorfal fins above water. 



Their length was from three to twelve yards^ 

 and fometimes even longer. 



Their form was rather fiender, like others of the 

 Ihark kind. 



The upper jaw was much longer than the lov/er, 

 ^nd blunt at the end. The mouth placed beneath, 

 and each jaw furnidied with numbers of fmall 

 teeth : thofe before were much bent, thofe more 

 remote in the jaws were conic and fharp pointed. 



On the fides of the neck were five large tranf- 

 verfe apertures to the gills. 



•On the back were two fins ; the firfl very large, 

 H 4 not 



Tee- 



