2 4 9 



2 6 



3 



2 6 



2 9 



ventrals ... 1 11 



2 3 



2 6 



2 



ior edge of nostril 2 6 



Zoohgtf.] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Fishes. 



The following- are the dimensions of an average sized specimen : — 



Measurements. ft. ins. lines. 



Length from tip of tail to end of saw ... ... ... 3 6 



„ from tip of saw to mouth ... ... ... 9 



„ from tip of saw to base of tentacles ... ... 5 3 



„ of tentacles ... ... ... ... ... 2 6 



„ from nostril to corner of mouth ... ... ... 2 



DLameter of orbit ... ... ... ... ... 1 



Length of spiracle ... ... ... ... ... 9 



„ from tip of snout to front edge of orbit ... ... 8 



„ from posterior edge of orbit to upper end of spiracle 3 

 „ from tip of snout to front edge of pectoral ... 1 1 



„ to edge of 1st dorsal ... ... ... ... 1 7 



„ to front edge of 2nd dorsal 

 „ of base of 1st dorsal 

 Greatest height 

 Length of base of 2nd dorsal 

 Height of 2nd dorsal ... 

 Length from tip of snout to front edge of 

 „ of base of ventrals 

 „ of front edge of ventrals 

 „ of posterior edge of ventrals 

 „ from hind base of tentacle to ante 

 „ from anterior edge of nostril to anterior edge of 



anterior gill-opening ... ... ... 3 6 



Teeth of mouth in 3 or 4 rows with broad oval base, and vertical, conical, 



central cusp about equalling the length of the base in height. 

 About 19 scales in a space of 3 lines about middle of body. 

 The ridging of the scales varies in different parts of the body ; very 

 generally the margin is smooth, not reached by any of the ridges, the 

 centre one is often longest, like a keel, and the other two, four or more 

 at base, much shorter, but sometimes they are all nearly equally 

 developed. 



The naked, or scaleless, portion of the fins, from which the 

 specific name is derived, varies in different individuals, and is not, 

 I think, a true character, as most of my specimens have the dorsal 

 and pectorals completely covered with scales, as in other Sharks. 

 There is a narrow ridge on each side of the ventral surface of the 

 tail from half-way between ventral and second dorsal converging 

 to anterior margin of lower lobe of caudal fin. 



This Saw-Fish is very common in Hobson's Bay, but it is now 

 figured for the first time. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 56. — Fig. 2, side view, greatly reduced. Fig. 2a, under view of snout, less reduced, 

 to show the character of the lateral teeth, the crescentic mouth, and the relative position of the 

 tentacles and nostrils. Fig. 2b, lower scales, natural size and magnified. Fig. 2c, teeth of jaw, 

 magnified. Fig. 2d, upper scales, natural size and magnified. 



Dec. VI. 



Frederick McCoy. 



[ 25 ] D 



