SHE BASKING SHARK. 
IS I 
‘She Bajldrtg Shark *i 
X his is the largeft animal of this genus, and differs in 
fome remarkable characters from the reft of the tribe ; 
it inhabits chiefly the cold climates, and has long been 
known to the inhabitants of the weft of Scotland and 
Ireland, where it is diftinguiflted among the failors by 
the name of the balking fliark, though better known in 
the former country by the name of the Sail-filh. 
The latter of thefe names has been given it, becaufe 
lt is feen at a diftance on the top of the water, with all 
J ts dorfal fins appearing above the furface, and fpread 
hk.e fails. Both in its manners, and external form, there 
are peculiarities in which it differs from the other fharks. 
It is f ar from being either voracious or fierce : Its food 
to nli Its chiefly of fea plants, no fifh having been ever 
found in its bowels ; but the green, and half digelted 
remains of alga : As its habits refemble thofe of the 
"'hale, Linnaus fuppofes that it is fupported by the fame 
food, aflerting that it devours only meduftef. 
Mr. Pennant has given a very accurate defeription of 
fhis fpecies, and feems firft to have difeovered its affinity 
t0 '•he fharks, by pointing out the five tranfverfe aper- 
tures of the gills on each fide of the neck : formerly it 
had been confidered as a kind of whale J. The oil ariling 
f'°m their capture, is now made an article of trade ira 
Vol. III. the 
■-’'lualus Maximus, Lin. Syft. Sun-fifli, Smith’s Hift. of 
Syftcma Nat. J Britilh Kool, ela£> iv. gen- v : 
