SPINOUS SHARK. 55 



which have shewn themselves to human research. Its clumsy 

 shape, and the small size of the fins and tail, are evidences of 

 its possessing but little activity, although, when put forth, its 

 muscular strength is great, as is proved by the powerful re- 

 sistance it has offered when drawn up on a line. Its habitual 

 food is uncertain, and its teeth do not appear well fitted for 

 crushing hard substances; but in Mr. Fox's example there 

 were remains of crustaceans (crabs, etc.,) in the stomach, and 

 no fishes. The extent of its mouth, seven inches, in a fish 

 which measured only five feet and a half in length, with the 

 form of the teeth, appear to shew it capable of swallowing a 

 large prey. The liver of this example yielded a gallon of oil. 

 This description is derived from an example taken near 

 Falmouth, which measured eight feet six inches in length, and 

 which, therefore, may be supposed to be about the dimensions 

 it seldom exceeds. Mr. Charles Fox met with one that was 

 taken towards the end of September, 1835, about a mile from 

 land, near Helford, in Cornwall, which measured five feet and 

 a half. Lacepede speaks of one that measured no more than 

 four feet, and Risso of a specimen so large as to weigh about 

 six hundredweight. For the figure of the first-named example 

 I am indebted to the kindness of William P. Cocks, Esq., of 

 Falmouth, to whose skill and industry naturalists lie under 

 great obligation for communications on several kindred branches 

 of science; opportunities of studying which are afforded him by 

 his residence in that town. 



The specimen referred to, eight feet six inches in length, 

 was in depth in a straight line two feet, and consequently it 

 was a thick and lumpish fish. The tail from its insertion was 

 one foot eight inches in extent. The snout blunt; eye round 

 and prominent. The body covered from the eye to the tail 

 with sharp spines; but there were none in front of the eyes, 

 nor below a line extending from the eyes to the pectoral fins, 

 nor on the belly. Gill orifices five, short and close together, 

 placed below the root of the pectoral fins. The latter fins 

 short, placed higher than is represented in Mr. Yarrell's figure, 

 narrower at the root than at the termination, and ending ab- 

 ruptly. Dorsal fins nearer the tail, and close together; the 

 first the smallest, over the ventrals; the posterior edges irregular; 

 no anal fin. The tail ascends from its root, the fin part narrow. 



