270 TIIE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



* Prionodon LAMIA. 



Carcharias lamia, Mull. & Eenle, Plag. 37, pi. 12. 

 Carcharinus lamia, Gray, Catal. Brit. Mus. p. 44. 

 Prionodon lamia, Dumeril, Ich. gen. i. p. 356. 



Snout snort and rounded : nostrils situated at about equal distance from its terminal extremity 

 and the anterior border of the mouth. 



Teeth In upper jaw triangular, with their internal border a little convex, and the external 



slightly concave : they and the inferior are denticulated, the latter are straight, narrower, and in the 

 form of a triangle, supported upon an enlarged base : a small central tooth in each jaw denticulated 

 above and smooth below. 



Fins — Anterior dorsal commences immediately behind the base of the pectoral ; it is a little 

 higher than its base is long : upper margin convex, superior angle rounded, and its posterior border 

 almost straight, with a pointed angle. Posterior dorsal much smaller than the anterior. Pectorals 

 about half as wide as long. The upper caudal lobe equal to about one-fourth of the total length, 

 and double that of the inferior lobe. 



Colours — Grey above, whitish beneath, or with the tips of the fins with dark spots : or a 

 white spot at the extremity of the pectoral, the upper angle of the first dorsal, and the end of the 

 two lobes of the caudal, with a black spot on the superior angle of the posterior dorsal and of 



the anal. 



This species was brought from Malabar by Dussumier. 



Habitat— Seas of India, China, Australia, Cape of Good Hope, and the Mediterranean. 



Fam. CESTRACIONTES, Dumeril. 

 Genus CESTEACION, Klein. 



Zyg.ena, Cuvier. 

 Cestrorhinus, Blainv. 



The anterior part of the head is broad, flattened, and laterally elongated, with the eyes situated at its 

 lateral extremities, and the nostrils on its fore-border. The nasal valve is a small triangular lobe situated 

 at the anterior margin of the nostril. Labial cartilages small or absent. Teeth in both jaws similar, 

 resembling outwardly pointing flattened pyramids, and are either trenchant, denticulated, or with a ledge 

 at the outer side of the base : there is a central tooth in each jaw. The anterior dorsal is nearer to the 

 pectoral than it is to the ventral : the posterior dorsal is smaller than the anterior, and situated opposite 

 to or rather behind the commencement of the anal : the incision of the caudal fin distinct. Oviduct of 

 embryo flocculent, and the ovary unconnected to the walls of the uterus. 



Cestracion ZYG^ENA. 



Squalus zygjENA, Linn, Sys. 1494. 

 Koma sorra, Russell, pi. 12, [young). 

 Sphyrna ZYGiENA, Cantor, Catal. p. 401. 



