Squatina. FISHES. CHONDROPT. 169 



lem versus oculum. Pinnae : dorsum suberectum muticum bipinne. Pin- 

 na dorsalis antica erecta, subpedalis, circa medium corporis. Pinna dorsalis 

 postica, multo minor, medium inter pinnam anticaci et caudam occupat. 

 Pinnae pectorales pedem longitudine superant, et ante pinnam anticam dorsa- 

 lem positae sunt. Pinnae ventrales spatiam ante pinnam dorsalem posticam 

 occupant. Cauda, perpendicularis furcata segmentis subaequahbus suba- 

 cutis : superiori longiori. — Sore prolato, maxillis subaequahbus ; superiore trun- 

 cata emarginata. There is not a vestige of this animal in Linnaeus, Wil- 

 loughby, Artedi, or Pennant." The form of the snout, the position of the 

 fins, and the relation of the gill-openings to the pectorals, mark a distinct 

 species, and even genus, which may be termed Selanonius Wal/ceri. 



The remains of the teeth of many species of sharks occur in the different 

 strata, from those of the independent coal formation, to the more recent series 

 of marine deposits. They constitute the Glossopetrae of the older writers. 



Gen. XII. SQUATINA. Monk-fish.— Body depressed. 

 Temporal orifices. No anal-fin. 



16. S. vulgaris. — Pectorals large, armed in front with short 



pointed curved spines. 



Squatina, Merr. Pin. 186. Sibh. Scot. 24. Will. Ich. 79 Squalus Squa- 



tina, Linn. Syst. 398. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 98. Don. Brit. Fish. 



tab. xvii. — Monkfish and Lewis, Couch, Linn. Trans, xiv. 90 E, 



Kingstone, Angel-fish. — On the coast. 



Length 5 to 8 feet. Body above, brownish-grey, white beneath ; the skin 

 rough. Head broad, emarginate in front. Teeth numerous, broad at the 

 base, pointed above. Tongue broad, sharp, pointed. Tubercles or spines 

 near the eyes. A rough line down the middle of the back. Two dorsal fins 

 near the tail, which is divided into nearly equal lobes. This fish keeps near 

 the bottom, and is only taken in nets. It is fierce and dangerous to be ap- 

 proached. The size of the pectorals, resembling wings, has procured for it 

 the name of Angel -fish. 



Gen. XIII. TORPEDO. Cramp-fish.— Sides of the snout 

 rounded. Furnished with electrical organs. 



17. T. vulgaris. Common Cramp-fish. — Skin smooth. 



Baia Torpedo, Linn. Syst. i. 395. Walsh, Phil. Trans. 1773, p. 461. 



tab. xix., and ib. 1774, p. 464. Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 89 On the 



southern English and Irish coasts. 



Length about 2 feet. Colour, usually brown above, and white beneath. 

 Head and body nearly round. Mouth small, teeth minute. Temporal ori- 

 fices with fringed margins. Eyes small. The two dorsal fins placed near the 

 caudal, which is broad and abrupt. This species was first recorded as occurring 

 on the Irish coast, by Smith (Hist. Waterford, 271-, Pennant), and afterwards 

 noticed by Walsh, as not uncommon on the English coast. If the colour- 

 markings be assumed as suitable characters for distinguishing species (in op- 

 position to the testimony of Mr Tod, Phil. Trans. 1816, p. 21.), the British 

 species will belong to the T. marmorata of liisso, Ich. Nice, 18. 



Gen. XIV. TRYGON. — Head uniting to form with the 

 pectorals an obtuse angle. Teeth granulated. 



