24 BULLETIN 189, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



H. peruanus; fins in general bearing the color of the body where 

 attached, the pectorals and ventrals, however, becoming gray under- 

 neath distally ; all fins spotted like the body. 



The foregoing description is based on three specimens, two males 

 each 415 mm. long and a gravid female 480 mm. long. The female 

 contained eight more or less elongate eggs, seven in the right ovary 

 and one in the left, the longest diameter varying from 33 to 52 mm.; 

 all too immature to have developed a case. However, an egg case 

 in excellent condition is at hand. This case is similar to that of 

 H. Jrancisci, as figured by Daniel (1934, p. 304), which agrees with 

 three specimens of the same species examined by me in the U. S. 

 National Museum. The Peruvian specimen, which tentatively at 

 least may be identified as the egg of H. quoyi, like H. Jranciscihsisno 

 tendrils. It is proportionately longer and has narrower spiral flanges, 

 which also are more numerous. The case of H. quoyi is 105 mm. long; 

 its greatest diameter without flanges is 40 mm.; the greatest width 

 of the flanges does not exceed 10 mm. and seven spirals are present. 

 An example of H. Jrancisci has a length of 92 mm., and its greatest 

 diameter is 41 mm.; the greatest width of the flanges is about 16 mm., 

 and only five spirals are present. I follow Beebe and Tee-Van (see 

 reference above) in considering the Peruvian and the Galdpagos 

 Islands representatives identical. 



The gravid female in the collection was taken in a crab trap in 

 Lobos de Tierra Bay on May 18. The two males were taken with 

 hand lines at Lobos de Afuera Island. This little shark, which is 

 not known to exceed a length of 565 mm., has already been recorded 

 twice from Lobos de Tierra where it probably is common. 



Range. — Galdpagos Islands and northern Peru. 



Family SCYLLIORHINIDAE: Cat Sharks 



Body elongate; tail not keeled; no nictitating membrane; spiracles 

 present; nostrils without grooves to mouth; mouth wide; teeth small 

 to medium, several series functioning, with a median cusp and one 

 to four small cusps on each side; gill openings five; twosubequal 

 spineless dorsal fins, the first over or behind ventrals; anal usually 

 before second dorsal. A large family of small sharks found in all 

 temperate and tropical seas, some of the species ranging into deep 

 water. 



Genus HALAELURUS Gill, 1861 



Body rather short; tail long, slender; head short depressed; snout 

 rather short; mouth broad, with labial folds; nostrils far apart, with 

 two valves; gill slits narrow, the last two over pectoral; spiracle near 

 lower posterior border of eye; origin of first dorsal behind insertion 

 of ventral; second dorsal behind anal. 



A Single species is known from Peru. 



