64 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



figure of the Portland specimen, extending along the whole side of 

 the neck, the first pair meeting within three inches on each side 

 of the dorsal surface, while they practically join under the 

 throat. 



The particularly flabby condition of the branchial cavities gives 

 to the head a most singular appearance in specimens lying dead 

 on the ground. 



In colour this specimen is of a uniform brownish-black on the 

 upper surface, and becoming a dirty white with a slight yellowish 

 tinge, particularly under the throat, on the under side. The skin 

 is covered all over with numerous irregular short wrinkles or folds, 

 and is very rough to the touch, especially when the hand is passed 

 along from the tail towards the head, owing to the presence of 

 innumerable minute curved spines directed backward. These are 

 more noticeable on the snout, where they can be distinctly seen 

 with the naked eye. The snout is covered with numerous small 

 mucous pores which occupy the top and sides, disappearing below 

 the eyes. The spiracles are small, and situated directly above, 

 and in a line with, the angle of the jaw. The eyes are placed 

 low down on the sides of the head, near the edge of the upper 

 jaw, and about three inches from the nostrils^ which are on the 

 edge of the upper lip. 



The teeth in this specimen are arranged in two to three rows 

 round the edge of each jaw, and are extremely small, rounded, 

 simple and conical, and terminate in a sharp, slightly-curved 

 point. They are directed inwards, towards the interior of the 

 mouth, with their points curved downwards, and are fixed to the 

 skin of the jaws by a small pedestal of hardened material. In 

 the fresh specimen only the smooth, rounded, central portion of 

 the teeth is exposed, the base and points being embedded in the 

 surrounding flesh of the jaw, so that they look very much smaller 

 than they really are. 



On the inside of the teeth row is a row of what at first sight 

 appears to be teeth, but which are soft, white, swollen bodies, of 

 exactly the same form as the teeth proper. As the skin of the 

 jaw shrinks in drying, these collapse, and are represented only 

 by small, flat, triangular-shaped pieces of white skin — in some 

 instances with the lower part which connects them with the skin 

 of the jaw more or less hardened, evidently showing the com- 

 mencement of the growth of another inner row of teeth. In the 

 larger specimens described the number of rows of teeth are 

 usually given as five and six. In the specimen from Portland Sir 

 F. M'Coy mentions six rows in the lower jaw and five in the 

 upper, the largest tooth measuring ^ inch. In the present 

 specimen there are only two to three rows, and the largest tooth 

 measures ^ inch long and '/le inch broad. 



The gill openings are five in number on each side, and are said 



