Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. {Fishes. 



when enjoying a swim in the comparatively shallow water in which 

 the Shark was repeatedly seen and at last caught. 



Dr. Giinther has suggested the name " Great Blue Shark " for 

 the present species, but as its colour is not strikingly blue, but 

 rather whitish, the old English name of " White Shark " had 

 perhaps better be adhered to, although no doubt, as Dumeril 

 complains, more than one species seem to have been confounded 

 by English writers, and sailors in many waters, under this name. 

 The present fish, however, has the best claim to the name, and is 

 probably also the Carcharias of the old Greek writers. There can 

 be no doubt that our fish, here figured, is the same as the terrible 

 " White Shark " sometimes found on the English coasts, and more 

 common in the West Indies ; probably the most dreaded by sailors 

 of all Sharks from its great size, strength, and ferocity. The fearful 

 armature of the mouth with rows of great triangular serrated teeth 

 renders any wound fatal ; and the size, even in our waters, is 

 often so great that a man could be swallowed whole with ease, as 

 Capt. King mentions in his Survey of Australia ; Blumenbach, 

 the famous anatomist, who was a perfectly trustworthy authority, 

 mentions a whole horse being found in one. When fishermen are 

 drawing their nets full of fish, this Shark will swim along, giving 

 every now and then a half-turn and biting out a large mouthful of 

 fishes and net, and swallowing them together. It was from repre- 

 sentations by fishermen and their friends of the damage done to 

 them and the destruction of fish, as well as danger to bathers when 

 these fish and the great Bull Shark or Shovel -nosed Shark 

 ( Odontaspis taurus) appeared, that the Government was induced to 

 place large sums on the Estimates for their destruction ; paying by 

 measurement for hundreds of the harmless blunt-toothed Smooth 

 Hound, Picked Dog-fish, and other small Sharks, as the young of 

 these monsters. 



This is the first recognisable figure of this famous Shark. 

 Couch's figure has the lower lobe of the caudal fin too small, and 

 the anal and second dorsal much too large and too far back. 

 Smith's figure gives the proper shape of tail, but no anal fin. 

 Yarrell's figures are not worthy of note ; and even the best of 



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