THE RAY. 
153 
T| an 0th T- T lle back is ash-colour, and the belly white. 
Hhs fish is chiefly caught in the Mediterranean. 
The Angel Shark , or Monk Fish is the animal which con- 
nects the Shark genus with that of the Hay, and partakes 
m some degree of the nature of both. It grows to a very 
huge size, sometimes an hundred weight, the head is laro-e 
tile teeth broad at the base, slender and sharp at the point! 
J-<ike those of other sharks, they are capable of bein« raised 
or depressed at the pleasure of the animal. The eyes are 
oblong, and placed lengthways in the head. They are sunk 
very deep and almost covered with the skin : and have more 
the expression of malevolence than of lire or spirit 
The skin is very rough ; the back is of a pale ash-colour, 
with a line of large lumps with pointed prickles alon<r it. 
the pectoral fins are extremely large and resemble wiW 
whence probably it derives the name of angel. This species 
ot shark feeos on flounders and flat fish. It is extremely 
uerce and dangerous to be approached. Mr. Pennant 
speaks of a fisherman whose leg was terribly torn by one of 
them as it lay in his net in shallow water. It is not un- 
u'equent on all our coasts. 
In this genus are included the several species of Do g 
, .1 which are common in most parts of the world, and 
jetain much of the form and all the habits of the shark. Nay. 
1 heir appetite for human flesh is said to be so great, that 
'ey will sometimes even venture upon the short” to gratify 
'\ ls . ' ,,oIc,u propensity. The most remarkable are tli e°Tope 
winch weighs sometimes seventy pounds. The Spoiled 
b a°f c Dog-fash , which has spines on its 
all , i ‘ 16 Smooth Hound, which is without the spines; 
and the Porbeagle. 1 
is ^". tbore I lav ® c I asse fl under this genus a singular fish which 
§ e h , known in the Western Ocean under the name of die 
Wh^i • ' s remarkable for a curious instrument with 
. ] ch it is furnished at the snout resembling a saw, and which 
sometimes of the length of five feet. From this circunt- 
nce u * s evident that it must grow to a very large size. 
ve r ^ h ? Ra T‘ • The . vvhole of this o enus resemble each other 
rienr.” lon S y tlieii figure; nor is it easy without expe- 
thi« A dlstin S l,ish one from another. The stranger to 
skat P ,r Sei ? US - tribe ma y lma g' ne he is only handling a 
he ma ' len be ls ‘ nsta ntly struck numb by the torpedo; and 
by the^fir^jj >OSe ^ aS cau S bt a thornback till he is stung 
Vol. if aie ‘ 
