1906.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 79 



FISHES. 

 GINGLYMOSTOMID^. 



1. Ginglymostoma cirratum (Gmelin). Shark. 



Very abundant in all warm shallows about the Marquesas. At 

 this season (June) they come in these places to copulate, and I was 

 informed that they do not occur here, or at least were rarely seen, at 

 other times for this purpose. I saw a male and female in coitus. On 

 one occasion about four males were seen swimming close about a 

 female, whose whitish belly could be seen quite a distance, as she was 

 back down. She was also evidently awaiting their initiative. I 

 approached in a small boat till almost directly above, when it was 

 possible to prod them with an oar as they swam slowly about and 

 but little agitated. A pair will remain fastened together some little 

 time, and then suddenly part without much commotion. Their loca- 

 tion may easily be determined in these places by a portion of the dorsal 

 fin, and frequently also a part of the caudal, projecting above the 

 surface. The term "cooting," employed by some fishermen for the 

 act of copulation among these sharks, may possibly have been 

 derived from the word courting. 



Examples vary somewhat in color, some appearing pale cinnamon, 

 though they are always distinguishable quite a distance, even when 

 entirely under water. All I observed were large, nearly twelve or 

 fourteen feet in length, and were not at all shy. Occasionally in shal- 

 low water, especially like that along the southern shores of Ballast 

 Key, they were sometimes more or less exposed or with both caudal 

 fins well out of the water when copulating. 



ALOPIIDiE. 



2. Alopias vulpes (Gmelin). Fish Shark. 



Reported to be rather numerous at times in and about the Keys. 

 They were said to feed almost entirely on fish. 



GALEID^. 



(Galeus Klein, in Walbaum, Pet. Arted. Gen. Pise, III, 1792, p. 580. Type 

 Squalus galeus Linna'us = Galeorhinus Blainville, 1816-17.) 



3. Cynais canis (Mite hill). 



A small Shark was seen in the shallow water about Sugar Loaf Key. 



4. Galeocerdo tigrinus Miiller and Henle. 



Reported as sometimes taken during smnmer. 



