104 PROCEEDINGS OF -UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



is a considerable difference in the temperature of the water at the two 

 localities, and temperature is the chief factor governing the north and 

 south extension of marine fishes. 



Most fishes as seen at Havana are more dusky in color than those of 

 the same species at Key "West the pale color of the bottoms (of coral 

 sand) of the latter locality may account for this. 



Of the fishes inhabiting any considerable depth about Key West, ab- 

 solutely nothin.g is known. All the species here named are shore fishes 

 or else free-swimming oceanic species. 



The numbers given after the names of the different species are those 

 attached to specimens from this collection in the United States jSTational 

 Museum. 



CARCHARIIDiE. 



1. Carcharias punctatus (Mitchill). SJiovel-nosed shark. 



{Squalus (Carcharias) terra-nova', Eicliardson.) 

 Very common. Xot eaten'. 



2. Carcharias lamia. Eisso. Ciih shark. 



{EnJamin Joiujimana, Por-y.) 



Very common about the wharves and keys. One 7^ feet in length, 

 taken with a hook from the wharf, showed the following characters : 

 Head, 5^ in total length 5 snout from mouth, 2^ times in width of mouth ; 

 tail, 4 in total length ; base of first <lorsal, 9 ; insertion of first dorsal 

 close behind base of pectoral ; second dorsal in front of anal, and about 

 equal to it in size, much smaller than first dorsal ; base of first dorsal Iff 

 in interspace between dorsals ; base of second dorsal, ^'^ ; pectoral fin, 5 

 in total.leugth ; its greatest width If in its length; its base, 2h. 



From a female specimen of similar size 5 or 6 nearly mature foetal 

 exami^les were taken. Two of these are preserved ; one is numbered 

 35053. 



This species is the J^w/^wm ?&w</m«/m- of Poey, which most late au- 

 thors have identified with C. lamia of the Mediterranean. Comparing 

 thefietal examples above mentioned with ai^artly-grown si^ecimen from 

 Venice, we are unable to detect any difference at all likely to prove 

 constant. 



3. Carcharias brevirostris Poey. 



Eather common about the wharves with the preceding, feeding on the 

 refuse fish thrown away by the fishermen. A female 6^ feet long was 

 taken with a hook. This specimen agreed fairly with the description 

 published by Jordan & Gilbert (Proc. U. S.Nat. Mus., 1882, 245), the 

 onlj' dift'erences being evidently due to age. 



Color pale olive ; no black on the fins. First dorsal of moderate 

 size, inserted well behind the pectoral ; pectoral rather long ; very wide; 

 its free margin concave, its top reaching to middle of first dorsal; base 

 of first dorsal 2~^ in !nters])ace between dorsals ; base of second dorsal 

 2^; second dorsal unusually large, nearly opposite the anal, and about 



