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



as slender as ours, and the Prince C. Bonaparte's figure, in his Fauna 

 Italica, is almost identical in shape and coloring with ours, but has 

 the pectoral and ventral fins too large, and the gill openings too 

 nearly equal. Dr. Smith's figure of the Cape of Good Hope 

 specimen is much thicker, but does not seem very good, as the gill 

 openings are entirely below the level of the base of the pectoral, 

 although it shows the shape of the top of the head pretty well. 

 A smaller specimen I have in the Museum from the Mediterranean 

 is 5 ft. long, and 1 ft. 11 in. in girth in front of the pectorals, being, 

 therefore, like ours in shape, and it agrees in all other particulars. 

 The number of teeth above and below figured by the Prince of 

 Canino is in accord with my counting of the Australian specimen 

 rather than with Dr. Giinther's, which latter is nearly double those 

 in my European example also, and is probably a mistake of some 

 sort. 



All observers agree in this being a sluggish ground-shark, 

 feeding on crabs and other creatures living on the bottom. 



This is the first example recorded in Australian waters, and is 

 one of the many rarities in the Museum I owe to the vigilance of 

 Mr. M. Dusting, of Portland, where it was caught, on the 24th of 

 November, 1886, on a shark line or rope, with baited hooks 

 attached, let down to the rocky bottom by weights. 



Explanation op Figures. 



Plate 144. — Fig. 1, side view of specimen about one-tenth the natural size. Fig. la, top 

 of head, to show shape of top of head and arrangement of mucous pores in front of the anterior 

 terminations of the lateral line, one-tenth natural size. Fig. 16, underside of head to show form 

 and position of mouth and nostrils, one-tenth natural size. Fig. lc, one of the nostrils, natural 

 size, to show form of lobes. Fig. Id, iris, natural size. Fig. \e, central tooth and lateral series 

 with one of opposite side, natural size. Fig. If, space without median tooth and lateral series, 

 natural size (the penultimate one absent). Fig. Ig, portion of lateral line, to show spinulose 

 appendages, natural size. Fig. 1/t, portion of skin, natural size, to show the irregular superficial 

 spines. Fig. H, small spine, viewed in profile, to show the relative shape of thorn and base, 

 natural size. 



Frederick McCoy. 



[ W ] 



