studies of australian sharks — waite. 35 



Addendum to Hemiscyllium. 



On March 11th, we received from a fisherman at Lillipilli 

 two adult females of Hemiscyllium ynodestum. The larger 

 measures 660 mm. in length, and contained eight young ones in 

 an early stage of growth. All are of about equal size. In one 

 examined the length is 74 mm , the diameter of the egg-sac 

 34 mm., and the length of the peduncle 16 mm. The dark bands 

 are clearly indicated, those on the head being most conspicuous. 

 A short rather faint band connects the eyes; this is not apparent 

 in the larger examples previously described. The succeeding 

 band, namely that across the occiput, is convex in front, while 

 the next one is very markedly concave. 



The most interesting feature of these fcetal examples is the ex- 

 ternal gills. They are in five clusters, one proceeding from each 

 gill-slit ; each cluster consists of about a dozen filaments ; these are 

 scarlet in colour, and 18'5 mm. in length. 



Branchial filaments also pass from the spiracle; this has been 

 shown to be a modified visceral cleft, and in early embryos 

 indistinguishable from the other clefts.^ 



In the smaller female the ovary was apparently unimpregnated. 

 The only substance found in the stomach was a coralline seaweed 

 (Corallina) represented by several pieces. 



s Balfour -Embryology, ii., 1881, pp. 50-1. 



