THE PIKED DOG, THE TOPE, AND THE SMOOTH HOUND. 



75 



north. It is not unlike the dog-fish, hut the numher 

 and position of the fins are the same as those of the 

 Wue and white sharks. It is a rapacious species, but 

 not so destructive as they are. The largest specimens 

 are about six feet long, and abound, in summer, on the 

 Cornish coasts. 



COMMON TOPI 



lu August, 1867, my friend Mr. Cecil Martyn sent 

 me a remarkably fine specimen of the Toper — Penny 

 Dog (Hastings), Miller's Dog (Cornwall) ; it weighed 

 about SOlbs., and measured 4 feet 11 inches. I have 

 made a cast of it, which is now in my museum. 



The Smooth Hound, or Skate- toothed Shark (Squalus 

 mustelus), is rather a common species on most parts of 

 the coast. Its teeth are flat and blunt, forming a closely- 

 compacted pavement on each jaw, and greatly resem- 

 bling those of the skate. Its skin is much smoother 

 and softer than that of the sharks in general. It is 



SMOOTH HOUND. 



from three to four feet in length. It keeps close to the 

 bottom on clear ground, where it feeds on crustaceous 

 animals, which it readily crushes with its tesselated 

 teeth. The young are produced alive. 



