Scientific Intelligence. — Zoology. S73 



of squalus lately captured on the American coast. The author 

 observed, that the first descriptions of the S. maxim us were so 

 imperfect, that modern naturalists have considered it a doubtful 

 species, and have accordingly described several large individuals 

 of this genus as new species. Dr De Kay considers the S. pelerin, 

 S. gunnerianus, S. homianus, S. elephas, and S. rhinoceros, 

 as all belonging to the S. maximus, to which also he refers the 

 individual under consideration. The S- peregrinus. Pinna 

 anali nulla, is certainly a distinct species. The most striking 

 peculiarity observed in this specimen, was the presence of true 

 baleen. Each branchial opening was furnished with a fringe of 

 baleen four inches in length. This was composed of a great 

 number of distinct flattened fibres, a tenth of an inch wide at 

 their origin, and tapering gradually to minute threads at their 

 extremities. In colour, texture, and flexibility, this resembles 

 very much the baleen of the Balasna mysticetus. The laminae 

 are extremely regular in their position ; thirty of them are in- 

 cluded within the space of an inch, and they extend the whole 

 length of the branchial apertures. The author concluded bv 

 remarking, " That all inferences respecting the size of a shark, 

 founded on the magnitude of the fossil teeth alone, must be er- 

 roneous, as the individual just mentioned was 28 feet long, and 

 its teeth were only half an inch in length. There are fossil 

 sharks' teeth in the cabinet of the Lyceum four inches long, 

 which, by parity of reasoning, belonged to an animal 220 feet 

 in length. — Silliman's Journal, Jan. 1829- 



27. On Killing Molluscous Animals. — The difficulty of pre- 

 venting mollusca from shrinking and withdrawing their organs 

 when thrown into spirit, is scarcely removed by quickly dash- 

 ing boiling water over the specimens ; and in the testaceous ge- 

 nera the process is not sufficiently sudden to secure the object 

 aimed at. Perhaps some zoologist residing on the coast, who 

 has a good electrical machine, will make some experiments, with 

 the view of killing the animals while in their natural attitude of 

 creeping. A wire might be made fast round the shells, and 

 the favourable moment easily seized for communicating the 

 shock. The spire should be cracked or perforated to prevent 



putrefaction before the animal is preserved in spirit. — L. Guild. 



ing, Zool. Journal, No. xiv. 



