Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes. 



Measurements. 



Length from tip of snout to distal end of caudal fin ... 

 „ „ „ anterior edge of orbit 



„ „ „ anterior edge of upper jaw 



„ „ „ anterior edge of pectoral... 



„ „ „ origin of 1st dorsal 



„ „ „ origin of 2nd dorsal 



„ „ „ origin of ventral 



„ superior to inferior angles of caudal fin ... 



„ anterior edge of lower lobe of caudal fin to tip of tail 



„ „ to lower lobe of caudal 



Height of 1st dorsal 

 Length of base of same 

 Height of 2nd dorsal 

 Length of base 



„ „ of ventral ... 



„ lower edge of same 

 „ posterior edge of same 

 „ upper edge of same 

 „ anterior edge of pectoral .. . 

 Greatest width 

 Girth in front of pectorals ... 

 Diameter of orbit ... 

 Height of hind gill opening 



„ anterior gill opening 

 Length from tip of snout to anterior edge of nostril ... 

 Width of head between upper edges of orbits 

 Length of base of anterior tooth of upper jaw 

 „ „ „ „ lower jaw 



Width of mouth ... 



References. — = Squalus spinosus, Gm. Lin., i., p. 1500; = Echinorhinus 

 spinosus, Blain. F. F., p. 66; Yarrell Brit. F., 2nd ed., p. 532; = Echinorhinus 

 obesus, Smith, II. Zool., S. A. Pise, 1. 1; Couch F. Brit. I., v. 1, 1. 12; Bonaparte, 

 F. Ital. Pisci. 



The careful figure here given is intermediate between Yarrell's 

 first slender figure and Couch's short thick one, which latter 

 more nearly agrees with Smith's South African drawing. Sharks, 

 I know, vary considerably in this respect in different individuals 

 of one species, and neither of the British authors seem to have 

 seen the fish, and they have both published the drawings of 

 amateurs sent to them — so that the present figure may very 

 probably represent the average proportions. The short thick 

 figure given by Couch from a drawing sent to him by Mr. Cocks, 

 of Falmouth, is obviously not very accurate, as the five gill 

 openings are made equal in length and entirely below the base 

 of the pectoral ; and the caudal fin being widest in the middle 

 is improbable. The more slender figure above quoted as given 

 by Yarrell, from a drawing sent to him by Mr. Hey, of the Filey 

 Bay specimen, gives the relative sizes and positions of the gill 

 openings more correctly. Several other figures are also about 



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