CLASS PISCES. 597 



vertebrae. Their flesh, in general coriaceous, forms 

 an article of food for the poorer sort alone. 



This genus is numerous, and may form a consider- 

 able number of subgenera. 



We separate at first, 



Scyllium, Cuv., 



Which are distinguished from the other squali by 

 their short and obtuse muzzle, by their nostrils being 

 pierced near the mouth, continued on a furrow which 

 extends to the edge of the lip, and more or less closed 

 by one or two cutaneous lobules. Their teeth have 

 a point on the middle, and two smaller ones on the 

 sides. They all have air-holes, and an anal. Their 

 dorsals are very far back, the first being never more 

 forward than the ventrals ; their caudal is elongated, 

 not forked, and truncated at the end ; the apertures 

 of their gills are partly above the pectorals. 



In some, the anal corresponds to the interval of 

 the two dorsals : such are the two species of our 

 coasts, often confounded or ill distinguished. 



Sq. canicula, L., Bl., 114. Rondel. 380. Lacep. I. 

 x. 1. (the great roussette). With numerous small 

 spots, and ventrals cut obliquely. 



Sq. catulus, et Sq. stellaris, L., Rond. 383. Lac. I. 

 ix. 2. (the little roussette). Spots more infrequent 

 and broad, sometimes in the form of eyes ; ventrals 

 cut squarely. 



We possess a third species, with black and white 

 spots \ 



1 Add the Roussette of Artedi, Risso, 2d. edit, f . 5 ; or tiqualus 



