SMALL-SPOTTED DOG-FISH. 491 



is supported on the inside by various other teeth, which 

 supply deficiencies as necessity may require. 



The specimen from which the description was taken mea- 

 sured eighteen inches in length ; the body, from the base of 

 the pectoral fins, where it is thickest, tapering all the way to 

 the end of the tail. The head is flattened on the top ; the 

 eyes large ; the orbits elongated, with a distinct aperture 

 (a spiracle) behind each ; the form of the under surface of 

 the nose, the nostrils, and upper lip, as shown in the left- 

 hand figure of the vignette at the end ; the mouth shaped 

 like a horse-shoe, the extreme angles only being directed 

 outwards ; the teeth numerous, small, pointed, and sharp ; 

 the pectoral fins large : the branchial apertures on the sides 

 of the neck elongated vertically, five in number, the first 

 rather the largest, the last the smallest ; the fourth aperture 

 over the anterior edge of the pectoral fin : the ventral fins 

 united almost to the posterior extremity in the males, less 

 completely united in females ; the elongated anal aperture 

 in the middle between them : the outer posterior margins, 

 in both sexes, are as oblique as those of the front : the right- 

 hand figure of the vignette at the end shows the lozenge- 

 shape of the fins when seen from below. The first dorsal fin 

 is over the space between the ventral and anal fins, and occu- 

 pies nearly the middle of the whole length of the fish ; the 

 anal fin is under the space between the first and second dorsal 

 fins ; the posterior edge of the second dorsal fin half-way 

 between the commencement of the first dorsal fin and the 

 end of the tail ; the vertebral portion of the tail nearly in a 

 line with the body, with a narrow elongated membranous 

 expansion above it, and one long and one short triangular 

 expansion below it. All the upper part of the body marked 

 with numerous small, dark, reddish brown spots, on a pale 

 reddish ground ; the spots on the fins rather larger and less 



