151, UE SHARK. 
of proceeding has been supposed to arise from a difficulty 
that is felt in seizing an object with the mouth in a prone 
position; but which appears to be adopted only that they may 
obtain a greater advantage in a rolling motion, to cut the 
object in two parts, or more effectually with a vibrating action 
of the head, to separate such a portion as they are prepared 
to swallow. On a large substance, with their formidable array 
of teeth the grasp cannot fail to be successful ; but with so 
slender a bulk as a fisherman’s line, it is sometimes otherwise; 
and when this has escaped the grinding action of the bite, the 
turning of the body is continued until the whole of the line 
is twisted round itself, and the fish is thus brought to the 
surface, even from a depth of forty fathoms. 
The Toper has been known to do the same thing under the 
like circumstances. 
It appears that this fish pursues its prey by sight rather than 
by scent, although its nerve of smelling is of large size; but 
it is known to be sensible to a nauseous smell or taste, for 
fishermen assert that it may be driven away by pouring bilge- 
water into the sea where it is: a jhece of information that may 
be of use in reference to the still more destructive White 
Shark. 
The Blue Shark seems to have a generally rapacious appetite, 
and has been known to leap out of the water to seize a piece 
of beef hanging on the quarter of a ship. It is only owing, 
therefore, to the circumstance that usually it does not come 
very close to the land, or enter harbours, that man himself does 
not suffer from its voracity. Jonston is of opinion that it shews 
a preference for human flesh; and he records an instance where 
a soldier was attacked by it, and had a narrow escape from 
being severely bitten. In a fish of such indiscriminate appe- 
tite it might appear superfluous to specify particulars; but 
from the stomach of one of six feet in length 1 have 
taken a large Picked Dogfish and a Conger, each bitten 
across at the middle, and also a Grey Gurnard. In another 
instance there were found four mackerel, half a garfish, and 
as many herrings, wholly uninjured, as the fisherman sold for 
eighteen pence. Yet after such a hearty meal the Sharks 
devoured the bait. 
It is also remarkably retentive of live, as indeed are the whole 
