MAN-KATKH SUAUIvS. 



112U 



extending its wanderings u|i to the .Slietliind Islands. 

 The third division, the snhf'aniih' ('arcli(iriinfi', is re- 

 cognised hy the normal de\elopnieiit of its head and 

 its large, triangular or subulate jaw-teeth, and to it 

 belong most of the s|)eeies vvithin the family. 



The two gcsnera wliieli oeeur in Seandinavian wa- 

 ters may be distinguished as follows: 



A : Peduncle of the tail crossed by a trans- 

 verse groove (a notch) above and below, 

 just in front of the base of the caudal (in Genus Carcliarias:. 



B: Contours of the tail unintcrrujjted (witli- 



out notch) in front of the caudal fin... ,, Galeorliinus. 



Ohs. Frciin Iceland Faber dc-srribed" a species of Shark 7 — 

 9 ft. ImiK. wliiili 111' called Sijualua arcticus. NiLSSoN assumed that 

 60 large a Shark, with tlie well-known roving proclivities of these 

 fishes, couhl not occiu- off Iceland without paying at least an occa- 

 sional visit to Norway: and on this ground Sqnalus (ircticns was in- 



troduced into the Scandinavian fauna''. The eldcT RlilNllAliUT showed, 

 however, that, admitting the possibility of one or two slips of the 

 pen or lapses of memory. Faber'b description is most appropriate to 

 /t:iirii.i (lAimna) coruiibiciis'. More recently MCller and Henle found 

 in the Museums of Berlin and Leyden a species of Shark'' which they 

 assumed to be Faiier's Squalus arcticus, and which they placed in 

 their genus Goleocerdo, most nearly resembling Galeorhinvs, but with 

 a groove in front of the caudal fin. Kr0ybr also states' that he has 

 examined two nuindibles of Oaleocerdo arclicus from Iceland. But 

 Fader's description by no means coincides with that given by MCi.LER 

 and Heni.e of the last-mentioned species. Especial attention is due 

 to the following points in Fabeis's description : "Schnauze vcrlangert, 

 zugespitzt . . . Nasenoffnuugen dichi vor den Augen . . . Schwanzflosse 

 fast halbmondformig." Nll.ssoN too was probaldy justified iu his as- 

 sumption I hut, if so large a Shark had occurred regularly off the 

 coast of Iceland, it ought also to have been met with in Norwegian 

 waters. As tliis lias not happened for more than sixty years since 

 attention was first drawn to the possible occurrence of the species, 

 we see no reason for notieiug this upecies among the fishes of Scan- 

 dinavia at greater length than we have done in the present note. 



Genus CARCHARIAS. 



Spiracles ohJiterated. A transverse f/roore in the superior and inferior margins of the tail Just in front of tlu. 

 caudal fin. Valve of the spiral intestine longitudinally coiled. 



The Sharks most commonl)' known as man-eaters, 

 dreaded and detested with equal fervour by the sailor, 

 belong to this genus. With their elongated form of 

 body and their well-developed fins — especially the 

 usually long and scythe-shaped pectorals — they are 

 confirmed rovers and readily .strike the eye, whether 

 disporting themselves at the surface of the open sea 

 or swimming in shallower water, sometimes close in 

 siiore. Their insatiate voracity renders them formidable 

 pirates throughout their range in the tropical and teiu- 

 perate seas. The seaman that falls overboard, in most 

 cases, no doubt, becomes their prey, and the incautious 

 bather, even on a shelving coast, may meet with the 

 same fate. Sailors therefore take a delight in torment- 

 ing these fishes in every conceivable manner when they 

 have succeeded in getting them on board. 



During his voyage to India Suni:)EVali, made the 



following notes with respect to the genus Carcliariiis: 



"These species are commonly seen slowly following the 



I vessel in fine weather and light winds, especially Avhen 



" Fiscfl. IsL, p. 17. 



^ Prodr. Ichtli. Scand., p. 11.5. 



' Maanedskr. f. Lit.. Kbhvn, Bd \ 



'' Plagiost., p. 60, tab. 24. 



' Damn. Fhlc., Ill, p. 933, note. 



the salt meat for daily consumption is towed behind 

 the ship, as is tlie general custom, in a sort of keg, to 

 be soaked. The Shark is then seen crui.sing al)out, 

 with dorsal fin projecting above the surface, and as 

 soon as anything is tlirovvn into the water, it is at 

 once pounced upon by the fish. Bits of wood and 

 other inedible substances are readilj^ seized, but soon 

 discarded. The Shark is consequently an easy catch, 

 but the hook should be of a suitable thickness, the line 

 strong and furnished witit some iron links next tiie hook 

 to prevent it from being bitten off. These fishes do not 

 disdain any animal substance or filth. In securing any 

 floating object, they open the jaws over it quite lei- 

 surely and raise the whole head above the surface, the 

 moutii being .situated on the ventral side; but upon 

 objects that sink in tiie water they dart with great ra- 

 pidity. In taking a baited hook, the Shark turns upon 

 its side or completely ov(n-, with tlte Ixdly u|)\vards, as 

 the snout woidd else come in contact \\ith the line 

 and push the l)ait awav. When the wind is at all 



, p. Sl-i and Bd 9. p. 263. 



