THE NUESE’S eggs. 
243 
behind the pectorals, towed to the beach. Since, 
however, the one above described, and another lying 
on the shore, not far off, were both females, full of 
egg-cases far advanced to maturity, I think it not 
improbable that the periodical resort to the warm 
sunny shallow's is for the purpose of depositing the 
ripe capsules ; and that the animal may be intent on 
this process, when supposed to be sleeping. Many 
animals, when once actually engaged in the operation 
of ovipositing, become insensible, or at least in- 
different, to all that takes place around them, and 
will allow themselves to be taken or killed without 
making an attempt to escape. 
The egg-capsules were about five inches in length, 
somew'hat pear-shaped, but flattened, destitute of 
tendrils, of a clear brown hue, and horny texture, but 
not of great strength : in some of them the young 
Shark w^as fully formed, and about three inches long. 
Many of the capsules were lying on the sand, around 
the second specimen, which was more advanced in 
decomposition than mine ; and some were floating on 
the surface of the shallow sea, among the arching 
roots of the Mangrove trees which were staining the 
water of the colour of brandy. 
The Nurse is of a dull brown hue on the upper 
parts, without spots ; the inferior parts are whitish. 
The singularly small white eye, with the horizontally 
linear pupil, imparts a remarkable, and certainly not 
a pleasing expression to the countenance ; but as the 
eyebrow is not projecting, there is nothing of the 
sinister and malignant aspect common to the true 
Sharks. The skin is covered with minute round 
M 2 
