526 SQUALID.E. 



This fish is subject, like many others, to occasional mon- 

 strosity. A friend of mine was in possession of a Picked 

 Dog-fish with two heads, the separation continuing so far 

 back as behind the pectoral fins. The fishermen who found 

 it informed me that there was only one egg attached to it, 

 and that it must have been dropped from the mother after 

 she was taken. The young are produced at various periods 

 from June to November. 



This species is common on various parts of the coast of 

 Ireland. 



The whole length of the specimen described was eighteen 

 inches ; the top of the head flat ; the temporal orifices large, 

 and seen from above : first dorsal fin commencing at one- 

 third of the whole length ; rather small in size ; front edge 

 convex, concave behind ; the point of the spine preceding the 

 fin half as high as the fin : the second dorsal fin half-way be- 

 tween the first and the end of the tail ; small in size, with a 

 spine as high as the fin : the nose rather pointed ; the eyes 

 lateral, elongated horizontally; temporal orifices behind, large, 

 but above the line of the eye ; nostrils small, with a minute 

 valve ; mouth semicircular, when quite open nearly round ; 

 the teeth from the centre of both jaws with points projecting 

 outward on each side, the edges sharp ; pectoral fins large, 

 commencing half-way between the snout and the first dorsal ; 

 ventral fins small, placed intermediate, in a vertical line, be- 

 tween the first and second dorsal ; no anal fin ; tail powerful, 

 upper membrane broad, the lower anterior part triangular, 

 ending in a slip prolonged backward. The upper part of 

 the head, body, and fins, slate grey ; under parts yellowish 

 white ; young specimens generally exhibit a few white spots. 

 Skin moderately rough on passing the finger upwards towards 

 the head ; in the contrary direction quite smooth. 



