508 
THE OCEAN WORLD. 
the result simply of the muscular contractions, hut that they are 
subject to the will of the animal, and evidently given for resisting its 
enemies, and benumbing its prey. How wonderful and varied are 
the resources which Nature grants to her creatures in order to secure 
then- existence ! 
SQUALIDiE. 
This family approaches more to the Eaias than any other fish ; but 
all the species have a lengthened body, merging into a thick tail, 
pectorals moderate in size, gill-openings on the sides of the neck, 
and not beneath the body as in the Earn ; eyes lateral, and the rough- 
ness of their skin is a protection from their enemies. The family 
comprehends the Sharks, Dog-fishes, Hammerheads, and Saiv-fish. 
Fig. 351. The Shark (Carcharius vulgaris). 
The sharks are said to attain the length of twenty and even thirty 
feet ; but its size is not its worst attribute. It has received, besides, 
strength and terrible arms. Ferocious, voracious, impetuous, and un- 
salable, spread over almost every climate, an inhabitant of every sea, 
and recently not seldom seen on our own shores, the shark rabidly 
pursues every fish, which fly at its approach ; and threaten with its 
wide gullet the unfortunate victims of shipwreck, shutting them out 
from all hope of safety. 
The body of the shark is long, and its skin is studded with small 
tubercles: this skin becomes so hard, and takes so high a polish) 
that it is employed for various ornamental purposes. This resisting 
power protects the shark from the bites of every inhabitant of the sea, 
if there be any daring enough to approach it with that view. 
