FOX-SHARK. 
1137 
Squalus Vulpes , Gmel., Syst. Nat. Lin., ed. XIII, tom. I, p. 
1496; Mitch., Trans. Phil., Lit. Soc. N. York, vol. I (1815), 
p. 482; Blnvlle ( Carcharinus ), Bull. Sc. Soc. Philoin. 
1816, p. 121; Cuv. (subg. Care h arias)-, Rcgn. Anim., ed. 1, 
tom. II, p. 126; Yarr., Brit. Fish., ed. 1, vol. II, p. 379; 
Bonap. ( Alopias ex Rafin.), Iconogr. Fna Ital., Pesci , tab. 
134, fig. 1; Mull., Hle ( Alopecias ), Plagiost., p. 74; Couch 
(G 1 archarias'), Hist. Fish. Brit. Isl., vol. I, p. 37, tab. VII; 
Dum. (Alopias), Hist. Nat. Poiss. (sit. a Buff.), tom. I, p. 
421; Barb. Boc., Cap., Peix. Plagiost.., p. 14; Gthr (Alope- 
cias), Cat. Brit. Miis., Fish., vol. VIII, p. 393; Coll., Fork. 
Vid. Selsk. Clirnia 1874, Tillasgsh., p. 208; 1879, No. 1, p. 
102; Mor. (Alopias), Hist. Nat. Poiss. Fr ., tom. I, p. 287; 
Doderl., Man. Ittiol. Medit., fasc. II, p. 52; Day, Fish. Gt. 
Brit., Irel., vol. II, p. 300, tab. CLVII; Petersen, Vid. 
Meddel. Naturh. For. Kbhvn 1884, p. 160; Day, Fish. Bidia 
(Suppl.), p. 810; Lillj., Sv., Norg. Fna, Fisk., vol. Ill, p. 
627; Car., Prodr. Fna ? Medit., vol. II, p. 507. 
Alopias Macrourus, Rafin., Caratt. Ale. Nuov. Gen., Spec., p. 12. 
The Fox-Shark attains a length of at least 5 m. 
(Moreau) and a weight of 300 kilo. (Doderlein.) 
Buckland cites" a specimen, taken by Mackerel-fisher- 
men from Yarmouth, 44 dm. long, 1 77 2 dm. in girth, 
and weighing 500 lbs. (226 3 / 4 kilo.), and another* * 
measuring 45 dm., taken by Herring-fishermen from 
Folkestone. 
Its geographical extension includes the Atlantic, 
Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Between the Cape of Good 
Hope and the Shetland Islands lies its Atlantic home, 
and in the Mediterranean it has been known time out 
of mind. Its comparatively large eyes suggest that it 
is more of a deep-sea fish than the other members of 
the family; but throughout its range it attracts atten- 
tion at the surface in its pursuit of schooling fishes. 
The long caudal fin, which often projects out of the 
water on such occasions, has not only conferred upon 
the species its name, but has also given rise to the 
most fabulous accounts of its ravages. With its tail 
it lashes the waves and deals blows on the surface of 
the water that resound like a cannon-shot. Dolphins 
frightened by this noise have been seen to take to pre- 
cipitate flight. It is quite credible that a whale may 
now and then have shown the same timidity. But from 
these observations, and owing to a confusion with the 
grampus ( Orca gladiator), whose dorsal fin also appears 
above the surface, it has been concluded that the Fox- 
Shark is the relentless persecutor of whales and dol- 
phins, though its dentition is far too weak for the 
achievements ascribed to it. “It, is sometimes,” says 
Buckland, “called the ‘thresher shark,’ because it is 
said to inflict chastisement on the whale, though I can 
find no real authority for this being the case; nor can 
I see why the shark should flog the whale. The tail 
of the skate can, as I know to my cost, inflict severe 
wounds, and the tail of the sting-ray contains a, dagger 
which is even more formidable still; I fancy, therefore, 
that the tail of the fox-shark is used by the owner as 
a weapon of defence, for if he chooses to use it, it, 
would act like a waggoner’s whip. Again, I think it 
just possible that, whereas we all know we can drive 
fish by long poles dashed suddenly into and about in 
the water, so the fox-shark may use his tail to splash 
about and drive the frightened herrings or mackerel 
into the position where they will be most handy for 
him to catch and swallow. I should imagine an un- 
frightened mackerel to be a difficult thing to catch 
when swimming at liberty in the sea. If, however, 
the fox-shark comes lashing about with his tail, he and 
his comrades would become confused, and while making 
up their minds what to do and where to go, they 
would suddenly find themselves going down the shark’s 
throat. One thing is quite certain, his long tail would 
enable him to turn smartly round the corners and as- 
tonish unsuspecting natives.” 
In the stomach of a Fox-Shark 41 dm. long Buck- 
land found 27 Mackerel; and Herrings are devoured 
with equal avidity. Accordingly it happens often enough 
that the Fox-Shark gets entangled in the drift-nets shot 
for Mackerel and Herrings or in the tackle of the Pil- 
chard-fisherman. On the other hand, it never takes a 
hook, which apparently proves that on the whole it is 
less rapacious than the other Sharks. 
In the Mediterranean the Fox-Shark gives birth to 
its young during summer. In August Doderlein se- 
cured a young specimen 27 cm. long. During October 
Buckland found in a large female from Folkestone an 
egg 76 mm. long and 63 mm. broad, on its backward 
passage through the oviduct, while the ovaries con- 
tained thousands of smaller eggs, from the size of a 
hazel-nut to that of a pin’s head. 
The Fox-Shark is, as we have mentioned, a stran- 
ger in Scandinavian waters. A female 429 cm. long 
was taken near Bergen on the 31st of August, 1868, 
and is described by Lilljkborg. In Bunde-Fjord, about 
“ Land and Water, July 6, 1869, p. 608. 
* Nat. Hist. Brit. Fish., p. 221. 
