31^ Mr. A. Strickland on Squalus spinosus 



nostrils, about 1 1^ in extent the longest way ; they were par- 

 tially divided in the middle by two valves, the posterior one 

 short and blunt, the anterior longer and pointed. The di- 

 stance from the end of the nose to the mouth was 6 inches ; 

 the whole of this space between the nose and mouth was co- 

 vered with numerous small open pores, probably the glands for 

 the secretion of the mucus that covered the whole surface of 

 the body. The mouth was furnished with three rows of teeth, 

 with the commencement of a fourth row imperfectly formed. 

 The outer or larger row was set upon an edge, but evidently 

 movable, as some of these were doubled backwards ; the rest 

 were set behind these in lines, each tooth diminishing in size 

 to the last. The teeth were thin and sharp, about half an 

 inch broad, and a quarter of an inch high : the posterior edge 

 was formed into two longish points, the upper one pointing 

 partly upwards ; the anterior side was formed into two much 

 smaller points, pointing in different directions. There was no 

 tongue, nor any appearance of one, the bottom of the mouth 

 being smooth and hard. Seven inches from the mouth com- 

 menced the brachial openings, which were five in number, all 

 placed in front of the pectoral fin ; the first was 3 inches long, 

 each increasing in size to the last, which was 6 inches. Im- 

 mediately behind the centre of these commenced the pectoral 

 fin, which was 11 inches in length, very thick and fleshy in 

 substance, particularly at the base, the posterior edge thin 

 and flexible ; but as in all the fins except the tail, there were no 

 perceptible fin rays or membrane, all being smooth and fleshy. 

 This fin opened perfectly horizontally, or at right angles to the 

 sides of the fish. Eighteen inches behind these commenced 

 the ventral fins, which were equally thick and fleshy, 14 inches 

 long and 1 1 inches broad, cut nearly square ; between the pos- 

 terior base of these fins was placed the vent. The space from 

 that to the lower end of the tail was only 1 7 inches ; from this 

 point to the upper extremity of the tail was 23 inches, in one 

 unbroken line, there being no distinct lobes of the tail as in 

 most of the shark tribe. The edge of the tail was composed 

 of indistinct fleshy rays covered with smooth membrane. A 

 little behind a perpendicular line above the anterior base of 

 the ventral fin was placed the first dorsal fin, which was 6 

 inches long, upon a base of the same length ; 4 inches behind 



