BLACK-MOUTHED DOGFISH. 19 



the form of these cases differs considerably — as well from those 

 of the other ground Sharks, as from the purses of the Ray 

 tribe. Mr. Yarrell (2nd. Ed.) gives a figure of one, in which 

 the tendrils are at one of the ends only, and so short as to 

 be incapable of that entwining action which is the principal 

 character of the egg-case of the Nurse and Rough Hounds. 

 They cannot, therefore, confine it to any fixed substance, and 

 what further use they are of is uncertain. Mr. Lowe also 

 gives a figure of this case, but unfortunately his description 

 is at variance with his figure; the latter being marked as of 

 the natural size, when it falls greatly short of the sjiecified 

 dimensions — an inch and half long, and half an inch broad; 

 with a smooth shining surface and deep tawny yellow brown 

 or horn colour. It is of value, however, on one account; for 

 there is in it a visible slit at the end where a tendril is placed, 

 as in the purse of the Rough Hound. 



The specimen, from which my original description was taken, 

 was in length twenty-five inches and three quarters, and seven 

 inches round where stoutest. The head flat on the top, rather 

 wide posteriorly; snout thin, jn-otruded one inch and three 

 quarters from the anterior angle of the eye; nostrils one inch 

 and a quarter from the snout, double one beneath linear, the 

 other on the margin, the hinder edge prominent, a depression 

 in the head immediately above it; eye rather large, oval, close 

 behind .it a moderately-sized temporal orifice; mouth one 

 inch and three quarters wide; teeth numerous, small, sharj), 

 at each side of the base of each tooth a small sharp process; 

 spiracles five, oj)en. The back a little elevated close behind 

 the head; the skin rough when the hand is passed over it 

 forward. Pectoral fins wide, much like those of the Picked 

 Dog. The first dorsal begins behind the ventral fins, at twelve 

 inches from the snout; the second at sixteen inches and a 

 half — both rather small; ventrals ten inches from the snout; 

 anal fin four inches long, rather narrow, terminating just 

 opposite the end of the second dorsal; extreme length of the 

 tail seven inches — the upper lobe in a line with the body, 

 bent down towards the termination, round, incised or jagged; 

 under lobe rather narrow in its course, expanded beneath; the 

 upper ridge of the superior lobe has a double row of prickles 

 pointing outward and downward on each side; lateral line 



