SQUATINA.] PISCES (CARTILAG.) PLAGIOSTOMI. 507 



(40.) Rashleigh Shark, Couch in Linn. Trans, vol. xiv. p. 91. 



" Twenty-nine feet four inches long ; twenty-four feet round ; the fork 

 of the tail seven feet : weight four tons. Eye in front, under a snout that 

 projects and is turned upward : mouth two feet and a half wide. Head 

 deep : the first dorsal fin much elevated." COUCH. 



The above notes relate to a species of Shark, a drawing and memorandum 

 of which are said to be in the possession of W. Rashleigh, Esq. of Mena- 

 billy. Mr. Couch observes that it seems to resemble the Basking Shark, 

 but differs from it in the form of the head and situation of the eye. 



GEN. 74. ZYGCENA, Cuv. 

 196. Z. Malleus, Val. ? (Hammer-head.) 



Z. Malleus, Valenc. in Mem. du Mus. (1822.) torn. ix. p. 223. 

 pi. 11. f. 1.? Cuv. Reg. An. torn. H. p. 393. Squalus Zygsena, 

 Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 399. 



A fish of this genus is recorded by Messrs. C. and J. Paget * as having 

 occurred at Yarmouth, Octoher 1829. The head is said to be preserved 

 in the Norwich Museum. As, however, the species have been much 

 confounded, and the exact one in this instance does not appear to have 

 been determined, it is impossible to annex any description. The Squalus 

 Zygcena of Linnaeus is the Z. Malleus of M. Valenciennes, who has pub- 

 lished detailed descriptions of four species of this genus, accompanied in 

 each case by a representation of the head, which appears to offer the best 

 characteristic marks for distinguishing them. In the Z. Malleus, which 

 is the most common species, the head is in the form of a very long 

 rectangle; the anterior margin straight, and deeply notched near the 

 external angle; the nostrils immediately beneath the notch. The Squalus 

 Zygcena of Bloch is a distinct species, in which the nostrils are removed 

 much further from the eyes. M. Valenciennes' memoir, which is referred 

 to above, should be consulted by those who may have an opportunity 

 of seeing any other British specimen of this genus. 



GEN. 75. SQUATINA, Dwm.tr. 

 197- S. Angelus, Cuv. (Angel-Fish.) 



S. Angelus, Cuv. Reg. An. torn. n. p. 394. Blainv. Faun. Franc,. 

 p. 53. S. vulgaris, Flem. Brit. An. p. 169. Squatina, Will. 

 Hist. Pise. p. 79. tab. D. 3. Squalus Squatina, Linn. Syst. Nat. 

 torn. i. p. 398. Bloch, Ichth. pi. 116. Don. Brit. Fish. vol. i. 

 pi. 17. Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 114. Shaw, Nat. Misc. vol. xxi. 

 pi. 906. Angel-Fish, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. in. p. 98. pi. 12*. 

 Angel Shark, Id. (Edit. 1812.) vol. in. p. 130. pi. 15. 



LENGTH. From five to seven, sometimes eight, feet. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Broad and depressed anteriorly, elongated and 

 tapering behind : upper part of the body convex ; lower part flat : great- 

 est breadth in the region of the pectorals, equalling, those fins being 

 excluded, not quite one-fourth of the entire length ; being included, more 

 than half of the same : head nearly round, broader than the body, from 

 which it is separated by a deepish notch on each side: mouth large, 

 terminal, transverse : jaws but little bent, and nearly of equal length : 



* Nat. Hist. ofYarm. p. 17. 



