420 
Fishes. 
them to attack and ultimately destroy each other ; but 
the upper jaw of this devouring animal, is so constructed 
as to offer, by its prominency, an impediment to the 
Shark's easily seizing his prey ; and consequently when 
on the point of catching hold of anything, he is obliged 
to turn on one side, which troublesome evolution often 
gives the object of his pursuit time to escape. The 
flesh of this fish is of a disagreeable taste, and cannot 
be eaten with any kind of relish, except the part near 
the tail. 
Twenty different species of this family are known, 
and the number of different families of the Shark tribe 
is very great. 
THE GREENLAND SHARK, (Selachus maximus,) 
Is another very voracious species ; and one extremely 
difficult to kill. It is the great enemy of the whale, 
and devours the bodies of those left by the fishers. Its 
teeth are very small, pointed, and numerous. The 
snout is short. It is sometimes known as the Basking 
Shark. 
THE DOG-FISHES 
Are so excessively voracious, that they are altogether 
