72 DOG-FISH PUPPIES, 



Sclmeiclerian membrane in our own bodies) is defended 

 by a fold of skin to keep the sand out of it, answering to 

 our nostril. The eye, when fresh, can be compared to 

 nothing but a cup hollowed out of a large pearl, contain- 

 ing a diamond as its lens, and powerful muscles move it 

 in all directions. On sinking the head in clear sea- 

 water, the eye glares like a cat's eye in the dark. I can 

 fancy nothing more horrible than the glare and terrible 

 rolling of this merciless, ravenous sea-tiger, deep down 

 under water, and can well understand the piercing cry of 

 horror Which a human being naturally utters when he 

 sees the murderous glance of the pursuiug and man- 

 eating shark. 



In July, 1868, two dog-fish were sent me by Com- 

 mander Whyte, of Instow, Devon ; the larger, which 

 was 51 inches long, was the common Toper (Sqiialus 

 galeus), or White Hound ; the female fish was Sqiialus 

 miistelus, or the Smooth Hound — the ray-mouthed dog, 

 skate-toothed shark of Coucli, The number of young- 

 ones was eleven, all the very image of their dear 

 mamma. Ten of them were loose and free from an}" 

 covering ; but I found an eleventh still in situ. It was 

 wrapped round with an exceedingly fine and delicate 

 membrane, as transparent and fragile as a gossamer veil. 

 This membrane formed a loose bag, which, when spread 

 out, would have been as large as a pig's bladder. 

 Doubtless, the other young ones also had each private 

 apartments in the form of a l)ag, but it had been torn off. 

 It appears extraordinary that among the family of dog- 

 fish, which apparently lead very similar lives in the sea, 

 some should be oviparous, and some viviparous ; it is 

 also interesting to remark, that whereas non-predacious 

 fish multiply at an exceeding rate — their eggs counting 

 by thousands, more often by millions — that predatory 



