WHALING VOYAGE. 
275 
of those ehetodons came close to the boat, and stayed to 
view us for a considerable time— these remarkable fish 
are of an oval form and flat, of a rich silverv colour 
delicately striped downwards with azure bands, swim- 
ming in a perpendicular position, and with two long and 
slender fins, one curving upwards from the back a con- 
siderable length, and another curving downwards from 
the opposite side. These beautiful inhabitants of the 
ocean remained for some time observing our boat, some- 
times gently reclining themselves as if to catch a more 
extended view ; others, of curious forms and various 
colours, were darting and gliding in and out of different 
crannies or openings in the rocks in search of prey, or 
impelled by fear,— several large cray-fish moved their 
antennae from under projecting points or rocky shelves, 
while the beche-de-mer, star-fish, and sea urchin, filled 
the rich scene,— the dark and wandering corie moved 
slowly along the wet and slimy rock, and the prickly 
clam, with its extended valves to catch its straying food, 
remained fixed in the deepest cleft, while pointed limpets 
studded the rough walls, completing the objects in this 
ocean cave. 
As we were looking at an object close to an abyss 
which appeared among the disjointed rocks, of small 
extent in width, but from appearance of almost inter- 
minable depth, there arose suddenly from out of it, 
gurgling and opening his enormous jaws, with his eyes 
glaring around, an immense shark,— he was only a few 
feet from us, and although we all shuddered at the sight, 
we felt thankful that we were in the boat, and safe from 
