205 



extremity of the upper lobe, four feet nine inches ; to the extre- 

 mity of the lower lobe, three feet three inches. The tail at 

 the commencement of the caudal was twelve inches in diameter, 

 with keels on each side ; these keels seem to be sheaths, through 

 which muscles pass to give motion to the tail fin. There are 

 indentations on the upper and under terminations of the tail, 

 which allow of an independent vertical motion of the caudal 

 fin. This fin is thick and formed of membranes like those in 

 the Cetacea ; it seems to be very strong and tough, and only 

 thins off at the extremities. 



The Skin is of a bluish gray color and is covered with hard 

 tubercles, which proceed somewhat in lines from the snout 

 toward the temporal hloio-holes. These hloiu-holes no doubt, 

 besides serving the purpose I have suggested, have other func- 

 tions to perform in connection with the branchiEe. 



I have considered this animal as belonging undoubtedly to the 

 Selachii family, and to the genus Selachus, and if it does not 

 belong to the species S. maximus, (which I believe is the largest 

 known inhabitant of the deep excepting the Cetacea,) it must 

 belong to a species nearly allied to it. Although this species 

 but seldom enters the troubled waters of our tidal Bay, yet I 

 think we occasionally have visits from them. It is probable that 

 it was an animal of this genus that some years ago, by getting 

 entangled with a schooner's cable at anchor in St. Andrews' 

 Bay, dragged the vessel some miles to sea with great velocity, 

 to the great alarm of the mariners, who ascribed the whole cause 

 of their unwilling transportation to the doings of the great Sea 

 Serpent. 



ADDENDA. 



It is rather singular, that a few days after Captain Helms had 

 made the capture related in the foregoing notice, the following 

 adventure occurred on the eastern side of our harbor. 



As Scovell was returning alone from fishing pollock on 



the eastern passage to this harbor, in a small boat, he was 

 alarmed by feeling something whisk across the back of his head. 

 On looking round, however, he could not see from whence it 

 proceeded, and pondering on this strange circumstance, he re- 

 sumed his occupation, but soon after received another unmis- 



