30 RECORDS OF THE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 



fourth and fifth at the base of the first dorsal ; the sixth and 

 seventh at the base of the second dorsal, the eighth above the 

 anal, and the remainder on the caudal fin. The bands, ground 

 colour, and fins are alike ornamented with scattered white spots, 

 some of which have a dark ring around them. All the examples 

 have the yolk-sac attached, its position and character being 

 represented in the accompanying illustration (PI. iv., fig. 1). 



These coloured cross-bands, and even the spots, sometimes per- 

 sist to adult life, in fact, I believe, if sought for, traces of the 

 bands at any rate could be found in the majority of fresh 

 examples. Specimens showing such markings, were described by 

 Macleay under the name Chiloscyllium furvum." This author 

 gives Port Jackson as a habitat, but I do not think the species 

 has been taken within the harbour ; it is only found on the coast 

 in rocky situations and is never caught excepting with hook and 

 line. It is taken by fishermen when angling for Groper (Achce- 

 rodus), the bait being either a Shore Crab (Grapsus variegatus, 

 Fabricius), or the Ascidian locally known as Cungeboy (Cynthia 

 prcepiitialis, Stimpson). 



Hemiscyllium modestum is commonly used for demonstration 

 purposes in the Biological Department at the Sydney University, 

 hence it is made one of the types in Parker and Haswell's Text- 

 book of Zoology. The authors have used Macleay's name, 

 rendering Chiloscyllium furvum as C. /uscum.^ With regard 

 to the shell gland mentioned (and figured) as a slight swelling. 

 Prof. Haswell replies to me as follows: — "I do not think that 

 the presence of a functional shell-gland necessarily implies ovi- 

 parity ; a good many of the viviparous forms develop a shell, though 

 it is thin and is soon thrown off." 



Being a source of small revenue to the fishermen, they are in 

 the habit of placing their captures in rock-pools, whence they 

 cannot escape. The Sharks have been thus kept alive for several 

 days, and fed upon fishes entrails and other food thrown to them. 

 As ascertained by opening the stomachs of individuals caught, 

 the food in a natural state is rather varied. I have found portions 

 of Crabs and small Fishes ( Lophonectes ? ). Of two examples in 

 the Sydney University, examined by the kindness of Mr. J. P. 

 Hill, F.L.S., one had swallowed a Sepia, the other an Anemone 

 (Actinozoon) and two Macrurus Crustaceans which Mr. Whitelegge 

 believes to be Galathea. 



Though appearing in literature as the Dusky Dog-fish or Brown 

 Cat Shark, it is universally known to the fishermen as Blind 

 Shark, this, though of course a misnomer, is applied on account 

 of the comparatively small eyes and the habit of the Shark in 



2 Macleay— Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W., vii., 1882, p. 364. 



3 Parker and Haswell— Text-book of Zoology, ii., 1897, p. 135. 



