PRISTIURUS MELANOSTOMUS. 97 



Alonsr with the individual here described and fiafured, there were brouarht 

 two eggs, which had been found in the bottom of the boat, in which it had 

 lain mixed with other fishes ; none of which, however, I was told, were 

 Sharks. These eggs were oblong, compressed, and of the usual form and 

 coriaceous substance of "Sharks^ eggs;" but, instead of tendrils, had 

 merely two very short and sharp points, one on each side, at the top. 

 They were an inch and a half long, and half an inch broad ; of a smooth 

 shining surface, and deep tawny yellow-brown or horn-colour. Although, 

 upon dissection, the individual which they accompanied did not prove to 

 contain any others ; I cannot doubt from the above circumstances, and 

 other external local appearances of recent vascular action or excitement, that 

 they had been deposited by it in its dying struggles in the boat : and since 

 this conclusion is confirmed by their exact agreement with Risso's descrip- 

 tion (Hist. iii. 118) of the eggs of his Sc. Artedi, an outline sketch of one 

 of them is added to the plate. 



DESCRIPTION OF TAB. XIV. 



Prisiiurus tnelanostomus, Buonap. from a female measuring ■2-i feet in lengtli. 

 /. 1. Profile of head of ditto, shovving real depth of muzzle. 

 /. 2. Teeth of ditto, magnified. 

 /'. 3. Part of ridge of upper edge of tail,- magnified. 

 /. 4. Egg of ditto, natural size. 



