Jordan and Evermann. — Fishes of North America. 25 



'26. CATULUS RETIFER, (Garman). 



Body moderately elongate, the vent in front of its middle. Head de- 

 pressed, its width nearly equal to its length, from spiracles forward ; length 

 of snoTit from month less than distance hetween outer margins of nostrils; 

 nasal valves broader tban isthmus; length of arch of month a little more 

 than i its width; lower labial fold reaching \ distance to symphysis; 

 teetli small, each with a central cusp and 2 small ones on each side. 

 Pectorals short and broad. First dorsal inserted near middle of body; 

 caudal not large. Light brownish, crossed at irregular intervals by groups 

 of 2 to 4 narrow black lines, which are joined by other lines, forming a 

 network of polygonal meshes; belly yellowish. (Garman.) Gulf Stream 

 in deep water, a few specimens taken oif the South Atlantic coast, (rete, 

 net; fero, to bear.) 



ScyUium rrtiferioii, Garxa\, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zoiil., xi, 233, 1881, off coast of Virginia, in 



deep water. 

 Spj??ioWu'ii»s »•?((/«-, Jordan & Gilbert, Synopsis, 869, 1883. 



Subgenus CEPHALOSCYLLIUM, Gill. 



2". CATULUS UTER, Jordan & Gilbert, iiom. new species. 



(Swell Shark.) 



Head very broad and depressed, broader than long, and not i as deep 

 as broad. Snout very blunt, projecting a little beyond the mouth. Mouth 

 very broad, little arched, with only a trace of labial fold. Teeth similar 

 in both jaws, small, tricuspid, in about 4 series, §5 in number. First dor- 

 sal beginning over middle of ventrals; second dorsal beginning behind 

 front of anal and ending before end of anal. Grayish, tinged below with 

 yellowish; back with black crossbars ; upper parts with large round black 

 spots; sides witli small whitish sjiots also. L. 2^ feet. Monterey to San 

 Diego; very abundant in Santa Barbara channel. A small voracious 

 shark, often taken in lobster pots. When caught it inflates its stomach 

 wlih air till its diameter is i its whole length. It will then float belly 

 upward on the water, (uter, an inflated bladder.) 



f Sajllium veHti-iomm, Garman, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vi, 1G7, 1880, Chile. 



SajUium vcnlriositm, Jordan & Gilbert, Sjnopsis, 59, 1883. It is probable that the Californian 

 species is distinct from the Chilean rfHlriosits. Both aro close to the Australian ('.hiticeps, 

 type of the genus or subgenus Cephahsa/UiioH, -Vihich differs from Caliilus in the inflatable 

 belly and the broad depressed head. 



Family IX. GINGLYMOSTOMID^, 



(The Nurse Sharks.) 



Large sharks with general characters of the Scylliorhinid.e, but with 

 the tail very long and more or less abruptly bent upward at its base, as in 

 the Gai.kid.e. First dorsal above or behind the ventrals, the second 

 opposite or rather before anal ; eyes very small, with small spiracles behind 

 them; nostrils confluent with the mouth. Nasal valves on both .sides 

 forming a quadrangular flap in front of the mouth, each being provided 



