Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/72

14 windows following the ship. It immediately took a bait and was hauled on board. It proved to be the Squalus carcharias, Linn., and assisted us in clearing up much confusion, which almost all authors had made about that species. With it came on board four sucking-fish, Echeneis remora, Linn., which were preserved in spirits. Although it was twelve o'clock before the shark was taken, we made shift to have a part of him stewed for dinner, and very good meat he was, at least in the opinion of Dr. Solander and myself, though some of the seamen did not seem to be fond of him, probably from some prejudice founded on the species sometimes feeding on human flesh.

30th. This evening another Motacilla avida was brought to us; it differed scarcely at all from the first taken, except that it was somewhat larger; its head, however, gave us some material, by supplying us with nearly twenty specimens of ticks, which differed but little from Acarus ricinus, Linn.; it was, however, described, and called Acarus motacillæ.

1st October. Bonitos were in great plenty about the ship. We were called up early to see one that had been struck and found it to be the Scomber pelamis, Linn., a drawing being made of it. I confess, however, that I was a good deal disappointed, expecting to find the animal much more beautiful than it proved, though its colours were extremely lively, especially the blue lines on the back (which equalled at least any ultramarine), yet the name, and the accounts I had heard from all who had seen them, made me expect an animal of much greater variety of colour. This consisted merely of blue lines on the back, crossing each other, a changeable gold and purple on the sides, and white with black lines on the bottom of the sides and belly. After having examined and drawn the animal, we proceeded to dissect it, and in the course of the operation were much pleased by the infinite strength we observed in every part of him, especially the stomach, the coats of which were uncommonly strong, especially about the sphincter, or extremity by which the digested meat is discharged; this I suppose is intended to crush and render useful the scales