32 NBW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



posteriorly; second dorsal rhomboidal, very small, produced pos- 

 teriorly, its base extending farther backward tlian the anal base; 

 pectorals placed low, subtriangular, broad, slightly concave be- 

 hind; ventrals small, broad, nearly midway between the dorsal 

 -fins, produced behind; anal similar to second dorsal but some- 

 what larger, more concave behind; caudal equal in length to 

 "width of head, its lower lobe short, the upper ending in a small 

 triangular portion; color uniform dusky gray, paler beneath. 



The hammerhead shark reaches a length of 15 feet; it is a 

 voracious species, found in all warm seas. Mitchill records the 

 <iapture of three individuals in a net at Sag Harbor, in Septem- 

 ber 1805, the largest measuring 11 feet; and on opening its belly 

 many detached parts of a man, together with his clothing, were 

 found in it. He had a specimen from the bay of New York. 

 De Kay had a specimen 25 inches long which was taken in a 

 -seine in New York harbor and he saw examples 4 feet long in 

 Hell Gate. Dr Smith publishes the following about its occur- 

 rence at Woods Hole: 



Usually common; some years abundant. Taken in traps from 

 -July to October, being most numerous in July and August. 

 •Generally swims with its dorsal and caudal fins out of the water. 

 The largest ones taken here are 7 or 8 feet long; the smallest are 

 under H feet; and the average are 4 feet. The name "rake- 

 head " is an old local designation of this species. 



In Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J., small examples, measuring 

 about 2 feet or less, are occasionally caught with hooks in Au- 

 gust and larger ones, 5 or 6 feet long, have been seen. It is called 

 '*' shovelnose shark " there. This shark is not common in Graves- 

 ■«nd bay, but is sometimes found in August and September. 



Family ALOPiioAEi 



Thresher Sharks 



Genus alopias Kafinesque 



Body fusiform, moderately elongate, the snout short and 



blunt; mouth horseshoe-shaped; teeth distant, flat, triangular, 



•entire, the third tooth of upper jaw on each side much the small- 



-est; gill openings moderate, the last smallest and placed just 



