STUDIES IN AUSTRALIAN SHARKS WAITE. 29 



The head is wide, and strongly depressed with an even curved 

 profile from above the pectoral fin. The eyes are small and oval, 

 about one-third larger than the spiracle, which is situated about 

 its own diameter behind and below the eye; it has a complete 

 thickened margin. The length of the snout is five-sixths the 

 interorbital space or rather less than the width of the nasal flap. 

 The nostrils are nearer the end of the snout than the mouth, each 

 is bounded externally by a raised semi-circular flap and the inner 

 margin is produced into a falcate cirrus having a broad base ; 

 when depressed it reaches to, or nearly to, the end of the upper 

 labial fold ; this fold is triangular in shape, extending from the 

 nasal opening to the external angle of the mouth, where it is 

 widest. The lower labial fold is also large, but does not reach 

 the symphysis, indicated by a deep sinus. 



The teeth in both jaws are similar and tricuspid, the median 

 cusp being comparatively large ; there are about four rows of 

 teeth in function. 



The four anterior gill-openings are oblique, the fifth less so, 

 larger and closer ; the last three are above the pectoral. 



The posterior insertion of the first dorsal fin is midway between 

 the end of the snout and that of the tail. The second dorsal is 

 similar in character and extent, and is separated by a space little 

 more than half its base; the angles are not produced. The pectoral 

 is inserted midway between the end of the snout and the origin 

 of the ventral ; the latter arises generally, but not wholly, in 

 advance of the first dorsal. The anal is well developed, and has 

 a long base which originates behind the posterior insertion of the 

 second dorsal ; it is subcontinuous with the caudal. 



The caudal is continued in the line of axis of the body ; its 

 lower lobe is long and deep, rendering the fin deeper than any 

 part of the tail, that is, behind the ventrals. 



A depressed lateral line begins on each side, above the spiracle, 

 and passes along the upper portion of the side to the caudal. 

 Above it and nearer to it than to the median line is a series of pores, 

 arranged rather irregularly two or three deep. A single line of 

 pores passes backwards and upwards from the spiracle and 

 becomes lost in an irregular series above the gill-slits. 



Colours. — The general colour of the body above and on the 

 sides is a coffee-brown, with or without markings ; the fins are 

 greyer. The under part of the head and anterior parts of the 

 body are yellow, the rest of the body brown, though much lighter 

 than above, while the tail is uniformly brown throughout. 



The young Sharks sent by Mr. Haviland are greyer in colour 

 than the adults, and have eleven well defined darker cross bands 

 which do not, however, reach the ventral surface. The first is 

 across the occiput ; the second and third in advance of, and the 



