SEXUAL CHAEACTEES ELASMOBEANCH FISHES 207 



a normal type of stratified epithelium (fig. 7). The grappler is 

 spoon-shaped, slightly concave, deeply serrated on its morpho- 

 logical inner border, but without denticles. Its function would 

 appear to be truly a clasping or grappling one. There is no 

 compact gland in connection with the anterior clasper as there 

 is in Callorhynchus. 



The frontal clasper (fig. 8, .4) is a knocker-hke stmcture on 

 the forefront of the head, which is used for clasping, and helping 

 to overtake, catch, and turn the female. It is limited to the 

 male, and, from indications of scars on the females, its place of 



Fig. 8 Frontal claspers. A., Chimaera monstrosa. B., Callorhynchus 

 antarcticus. 



application appears to be near the pectoral fins. It is strongly 

 denticled on its under surface, and, when not in action, is kept 

 bent in a httle socket-like depression in the skin, into which it 

 just fits. In the female the position of the frontal clasper is 

 indicated bv a flat area on the skin of the forehead. 



