EDWIN CHAPIN STARKS 5 



back almost reach to opposite the posterior end of the dorsal base. The 

 length of the caudal from the pit on the upper part of its base to its tip 

 is equal to the space between the front of the head and the dorsal fin. The 

 second dorsal is a little in front of the anal, and the base slightly exceeds 

 that of the latter in length. The anal is unlike the second dorsal in form, 

 being deeply notched behind with its lobes almost equal, while the dorsal 

 is concave behind, with its inner lobe reaching far behind its outer. 



The color is slaty blue above and pure white below. The dorsal and 

 caudal are outlined in black, especially the caudal, which has a broad, black 

 posterior margin. The tips of the other fins are dark. 



2. Hyproprion brevirostris Poey. 



A specimen, a couple of feet long, taken at Para. Its teeth are not 

 mature enough to note their final character. They are abruptly widened at 

 the base and very slightly serrate. In general proportions of fins and body 

 this specimen agrees very well with current descriptions. 



Family SPHYRNID^. 

 3. Sphyrna tiburo (Linnaeus). 

 A small specimen collected at Natal. 



Family RHINOBATID^. 

 4. Rhinobatus percellens (Walbaum). 



Two fine specimens were taken in a trawl in deep water by a fishing 

 company at Natal, that has imported a trawler from England. 



The greatest width of the disk is equal to the space from the tip of 

 the snout to the middle of the eyes. The preoral part of the snout, from 

 between the teeth, is contained 2^4 times in the length to the vent. The 

 front of the vent is midway between the tip of the snout and the base of 

 the caudal. The width of the mouth is contained 2^ in the preoral part 

 of the snout. The lower part of the tail has a projecting flap that is wider 

 than the usual keel. Two papillae are on the margin of the spiracle; 

 the outer one much the larger. The distance between the dorsals is equal 

 to the width of the tail behind the base of the ventrals. 



The ground color is white or light sienna, with round brown spots a 

 little smaller than the eye. Between them are smaller spots, similar in color 

 but less regular in outline. The spots are scattered over the upper parts 

 so closely that the ground color shows only as reticulations. There are 



