318 CHONDROPTERYGII. SHARK FAMILY. 



arities are the position of the first dorsal, which is 

 opposite the abdominal fin, and the numerous spines 

 scattered over the surface of the skin. These spines 

 exactly resemble the prickles on the stems of the 

 rose-bush, being conical, generally curved, and 

 rising from a broad circular base, which is marked 

 with radiating striae. They are said to be most 

 numerous in the males. The teeth " are regularly 

 placed upon each jaw, only one in use at a time, 

 the rest reclined; they are large, compressed, and 

 somewhat quadrangular, the cutting edges nearly 

 horizontal, and both of their sides are generally 

 tricuspidate. This shark is described by fishermen 

 as sluggish and unwieldy in its movements, and 

 but seldom to be observed towards the surface of 

 the water. When they obtain specimens, it is gene- 

 rally at a time when they are fishing in deep water, 

 and when the bait with which the hooks are armed 

 is near to the bottom. In this respect it resembles 

 Scyllia or Ground Sharks ; and, if we were to re- 

 gard only its internal organization, we should be 

 disposed to consider it as closely allied to that 

 genus." * 



CXVI. Gen. Squatina. — Differs from all others 

 of the family by having the mouth at the extremity 

 of the muzzle, and not beneath it ; the body flat- 

 tened horizontally ; tne pectorals very large, at- 

 tached anteriorly to the head, and free on the 

 posterior edge. These and some other characters 

 render this genus exactly intermediate between the 

 * Smith's Zool. of Southern Africa, 



