THE FISHES OF malauak. 



271 



Sphyrnias zygjena, Gray, Catal. Brit. Mus. p. 48. 

 Cestracion ZYGiENA, Dwm&ril, Lch. gvn. i. p. 382. 

 Hammee-headed shark. 



The anterior portion of the head is broad, flattened, and laterally elongated, with eyes on its 

 external margins, and nostrils situated anteriorly : its length from the angle of the mouth is about 

 one-third its breadth : its posterior margin is placed at acute angles with the body : its mouth small 

 and on the inferior surface. Nostrils patent, near the external portion of the anterior aspect of 

 the head, with a triangular lobe at their internal margins forming a valve, from which extends a 

 fissure along their external third. 



Teeth— Pyramidal, all trenchant with smooth edges, those in the upper jaw somewhat the 

 broadest : there is a middle elongated tooth in either jaw. 



Fins— The anterior dorsal commences opposite the termination of the pectoral, its anterior 

 margin one third longer than its base. The second dorsal smaller, it commences opposite the 

 anterior margin of the anal, but terminates before the latter in an elongated point. Ventrals 

 situated midway between the base of the pectoral and the base of the caudal. 



Scales — Minute, with several ridges. 



Colours— Body and fins of a dull slate-grey : under surface white : iris golden. 



Its flesh is considered very nourishing, and is extensively salted : its fins are dried : whilst a 

 medicinal oil is extracted from its fiver, which is believed by the Natives to be a good remedy for 

 " night blindness" (nyctalopia). It grows to eleven feet or more in length, and is much dreaded. 



Habitat— Tropical and temperate seas of both hemispheres. 



* Cestracion Leeuwenii. 



Zyg,ena Leeuwenii, Griffith, Cuv. Animal Kingdom, p. 640, pi. 50. 

 Cestracion Leeuwenii, Dumeril, lch. gen. i. p. 383. 



Head shaped as in the C. zygoma, its width as compared to its length and to that of the tail 

 has the same proportions as in the last species. 



Fins— The same as in the last species, but the lower lobe of the caudal, instead of being 

 directed very obliquely from above downwards, and from before backwards, and forming with the 

 horizontal portion of the fin a sort of fork, follows a slightly oblique direction, from which it results 

 that its posterior border approaches to the vertical and reunites almost at a right angle with the 



upper lobe. 



Habitat— Red Sea, Seas of Malabar, Australia, and New Zealand ; also of Senegal, Algeria, 



and the Brazils. 



Sub-Order.— EAJ^E. 

 Fam. SQUATINORAIJOIDjE. 



Squatinoraies, Dumeril. 

 Galeobatides, Dumeril. 



