THE SHARK, 
SI5 
Section V. 
Gen. VII. The Shark 
* H E fiflies of this genus are the moft formidable and vc= 
r? -cious of all the tyrants of the ocean ; if fome of the 
ra ys were invefted by the credulity of the ancients, with 
imaginary powers of deftruftion, thofe pofieffed by the 
^- a rk are real. The fpine of the fire-flare might often 
Prove hurtful, but the fangs of the Ihark are always fa- 
ta l* The genus is diflinguilhed by an enormous mouth. 
Placed beneath the head, armed both above and below, 
' Vlt h an hundred and forty-four frightful teeth, which the 
a mmal has the power to raife or deprefs at pleafure ; to 
^is hideous apparatus of deftruGiion, the {hark joins s 
fictcenefs and rapidity, far fuperior to that of the o- 
Iher rapacious tribes : The fmalleft of the race is dread” 
by almoft every filh in the fea ; for there is hardly an v 
them that dread an encounter with animals far fu- 
P er i°r in fize, and more formidable in appearance. The 
Xv hite lhark, which is the largeft of this tremendous race! 
Maintains a terrible defpotifm in the ocean 5 for,' with that 
^mazing velocity peculiar to his tribe, he unites the 
1 On o e ft appetite for depredation. He approaches near- 
to of the whale, but far furpafies that animal 
P 2 vs 
