DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES. 



I. SHARKS. 



Of pelagic Sharks, that is, of species which were found at a considerable distance 

 from land, and are known to have a wide geographical range, only a few specimens were 

 preserved. They belong to three well-known species of the genus Carcharias. 



Carcharias glaucus, L. 



A specimen, 10 feet long, was caught on March 2, 1876, in the South Atlantic, and 

 another, 8 feet long, on April 5, 1875, off Japan. The Blue Shark is known to inhabit 

 the seas of the temperate and tropical zones generally, but I believe that this is the 

 first recorded instance of its occurrence in Japanese waters. 



Carcharias lamia, Risso. 



One specimen, 7 feet long, was caught near the Kermadec Group. This also 

 seems to be the first recorded instance of the occurrence of this Shark in the Indo- 

 Pacific. 



Carcharias obscurus, Les. 



A specimen, 47 inches long, was caught off the coast of Sierra Leone on April 

 9, 1876. A second specimen, obtained near the island of Ascension, was included in 

 the Report on the Shore Fishes {Zool. Chall. Exp., pt. iv. p. 5). 



II. ACANTHOPTERYGIANS. 



Pimelepterus ivaigiensis, Quoy and Gaimard. 



Two specimens of 20 and 22 mm. in length were taken from driftwood, north of 

 Papua, February 21, 1875, and resemble more mature ones in every respect, so that 

 no change with advancing age seems to take place in this genus. The teeth are still 

 hidden below the mucous membrane. 



