Orca Gladiator. 
5 
dreaded and invincible enemies, the “ killers ” 
and “ threshers ” of the South Pacific—the 
murderous, savage cetacean pirates that lie in 
wait for the returning “ pods ” as they travel 
southwards to the colder seas of Tasmania. 
As the great humpback reached the chain of 
rocks, and had begun to scratch, his foes had 
advanced silently but swiftly towards him. 
Before them swam their equally fierce and 
dreaded ally, Alopias Vulpes , the “ thresher,” 
or fox-shark. But, before I tell of that noble 
fight of giants, which for nearly two hours we 
gazed at on that October morning from the 
lonely headland, let me say something about 
Alopias Vulpes and his fellow pirate, Orca 
Gladiator , the “ killer.” 
First of all, then, as to the “ thresher.” He 
is a shark, pure and simple, and takes his name 
from his enormous, scythe-like, bony tail, which 
forms two-thirds of his length. His mouth is 
but small, and whales have little to fear from 
that, but dread the terrible knife-like sweep and 
downward slash of his tail ; for each stroke cuts 
through the tough skin and sinks deep into the 
blubber. Such is the “ thresher,” and in every 
