24 



Among the most interesting he will see in 

 Case 2. The Wolf Fish, whose jaws are armed with 

 large tubercular teeth. Its gall is used as soap by the 

 Icelanders. The Hand Fish, which have the faculty of 

 inflating their large stomach with air in the form of a 

 balloon. 



Case 3. The Pikes, the tyrants of the water, are in 

 this case. They are found in many lakes of Europe, 

 principally in Lapland, where sometimes they grow to 

 the length of eight feet. They are very voracious. 

 To this family belong the Flying Fish, the peculiarities 

 of which are interesting ; they abound in those seas 

 situate in the tropical climates ; and are seldom larger 

 than a herring. Its greatest enemy is the dorado or 

 dolphin, which pursues it with great velocity; but na- 

 ture having furnished the little fugitive with two sets 

 of long fins moved by strong muscles, when tired in the 

 water, these are exerted in a different manner, and in a 

 different direction, by fluttering over the water for seve- 

 ral hundred yards ; by which time they have acquired 

 fresh power for renewing their exertions in the water, 

 to which they again have recourse, unless seized upon 

 when out of water by the tropic bird, which is ever on 

 the wing watching for it ; but if it escapes the bird, 

 the dolphin still keeps it in view ; until at last, being 

 exhausted, it drops into the mouth of its fierce pursuer. 



Cases 7 and 8. The Sturgeon, which is a very large 

 though harmless fish. The kind brought to England 

 for food, usually comes from the Baltic. They have 

 been known to weigh 4001b., are caught with nets, 

 which they often break to pieces ; but the instant its 

 head is raised above water, all its activity ceases, and 

 it becomes a spiritless lump. 



The Sharks, one of which is near the door, are of all 

 the inhabitants of the deep the fiercest and mos 

 voracious. Some have asserted that the white shark 

 weighs sometimes 4000 lb : they grow to the size of 

 nearly thirty feet in length. The mouth and throat are 

 exceedingly large, and capable of swallowing a man 

 with ease : we are told of one found with a human 



