582 PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Gill openings very wide; width of first slit nearly equaling its dis- 

 tance from fourth gill slit. Branchial area about as deep as long. 



First dorsal inserted posteriorly, its origin nearly midway between 

 anterior insertions of pectorals and ventrals ; the fin but little higher 

 than long, the upper margin lunate, the greatest height one-half length 

 of head from snout to third gill slit. Second dorsal similar to the first, 

 the height but 'ittle less. Distance between dorsals twice the base of 

 the first, 2^ times base of second. 



Anal smaller than second dorsal, the margin very deejily incised ; its 

 origin slightly posterior to that of second dorsal, the two fins terminat- 

 ing about on the same vertical. 



Caudal with a deep groove-like pit at base above, and a shallow, in- 

 conspicuous one below. Length of upper caudal lobe rather more than 

 length of head from snout to last gill slit. 



Pectorals short and very broad, their posterior margins crescentic; 

 tips reaching nearly half way to middle of ventral base, scarcely to end 

 of first third of dorsal base. Outer edge of ventrals one-third length 

 of caudal, one-half that of ])ectoral. 



Color greenish olive, dusky above ; fins all, except first dorsal, with 

 black margins, which are very wide on anal and caudal ; eyes very light 

 grayish ; tongue and inside of mouth generally, brilliant white. 



A single specimen, about 2i feet long, was taken in Charleston Har- 

 bor. It was not recognized by the fishermen as a common shark. 



The description given by Professor Poey is so short that we cannot 

 consider the present identification of it as certain. 



8. Pristis pectinatus Latham — Sawfish. 



A large skin of this species and several " saws" are in the Charles- 

 ton Museum, having been taken on the coast of South Carolina. 



9. Rhiuobatus lentiginosus Gariuan. 



Olive brown above, everywhere, except on dorsal and caudal fins, and 

 on sides of snout covered with small, round, bluish- white spots, about 

 one-third diameter of pupil; these spots extend on rostral cartilage 

 two thirds distance to tip; lateral margins of snout, as well as rostral 

 cartilage, dusky below; ventrals margined posteriorly with whitish, 

 very distinctly white in the young; entire coloration distinct in young 

 before birth. 



Body narrow, the greatest width of disk one-half distance from snout 

 to origin of first dorsal ; snout very long and narrow, its length from 

 front of eye equaling one-third its distance to vent; rostral ridges 

 wholly united below for their entire length ; above, the ridges are very 

 narrow, uniting to form a spatulate tip, thence separated by a very nar- 

 row groove, which becomes wider on posterior fourth ; sides of snout 

 semi-trausluceut. 



Eye equal to the concave interorbital space, which is contained -tf 



