608 ORDER CHONDROPTERYGII. 



(angel-fish), with a rough skin, and small spines to the 

 edges of the pectorals, Bl. 116 \ 



Pristis 2 , Lath., 



Form a fourth genus. They unite to the elongated 

 form of the squali in general, a body flatted in front, 

 and gills pierced underneath, as in the rays. But 

 their proper character consists in a very long de- 

 pressed muzzle, in the form of the blade of a sword ; 

 armed on each side with strong osseous spines, 

 pointed and trenchant, and implanted like teeth. 

 This beak, from which their name is derived, is a 

 powerful weapon, with which these fishes do not fear 

 to attack the largest cetacea. The true teeth in their 

 jaws are small and rounded, as in Mustelus. 



The common species, Pristis antiquorum, Lath., 

 Squal. pristis, L. (saw-fish), attains to the length of 

 twelve or fifteen feet 3 . 



Raia *, Lin., 

 Form a genus not less numerous than that of the 



1 Add Squat, aculeata, Dum. of the Mediterranean, a range of 

 strong spines along the back. Squat. Dumerilii, Lesueur, Ac. Nat. 

 Sc. Phil. I. x. with a granulated skin, &c. 



2 TlptffTiQ, a saw, the Greek name of this fish. 



1 List of species : Pristis antiquorum. Pr. cuspidatus. Pr. 

 pectinatus. Pr. microdon. Prist, cirrhatus. See Lath. Linn. 

 Trans, vol. ii. p. 282. pi. xxvi. and xxvii. Pristis semi-sagittatus. 

 Shaw, Russel, I. 13. 



* Raia in Latin, Berne and Barog in Greek, are the ancient names 

 of these fishes. 



