(iKNKIIAL I>i:s(lMI"n<>N'. ;>-2 1 



possession of I'lolrssDi- Apissi/,, of ll.irvard liiivi rsit\ , w hit-li 

 im-asnrcd ahoiit t«n ffct and a lialf iii liiiirtli, and \v('i«;licd 

 t'ij;hti'»'ii pounds. 



'I'lic K'n^tli of the luad to tliat of tlic uliolc hodv was as two 



to IMMf. 



Till' snout, tVoni lilt- orl)it of the vyv foruard, sin^ularlv 

 elongated and acute. The anterior (ulgc of tlic orbit, midway 

 between tlie ti[) of tin- snout and the posterior margin of the 

 free gill-cover. The l)order of the upper jaw is formed of the 

 nmxillaries alone, the edges of whieh are furnislied witli several 

 rows of louL', powerful, aiul exceedingly sharj), awl-shaped teeth, 

 the points curving slightly forwanl. The vonur and |)alatine 

 bones are covered with card-like ehuni)s of spiny teeth, as are 

 the base of the tongue, and the [diaryngeal hones. 'I'Ik' tongue 

 itself is soft. 



The lower jaw is considerably longer than the upper; it is 

 armed for something less than half its length with very powerful 

 recurved fangs, the two largest being in front, a little posterior 

 to the tip of the tongue. Beyond these the lower jaw is toothless, 

 curved upwards, with sharp, horny, beak-like edges; and in these 

 points, particularly, is it distinct from the following spct-ies. 



Of the gill-covers, the jiir-opn'riilum is nearly vertical, and 

 but slightlv cur\eil ; t\\v t/prrru/iiin much hii.(her than it is l)road, 

 and nearly four times a.s high juh the xufi-ojtrrculum, which is 

 slightly rounded posteriorly. The branchiostegous rays are 

 eighteen in number. 



The bo<ly and liea«l arc quadrangtdar, tlaltened above, and 

 much comprc.s.«tcd at the sides. The dorsal fin is directly above 

 the anal ; the catidal powcrftd and deeply forked. 



