274 THE SUCKING FISH. 



colour of the fish of the common species was an 

 uniform grey or lavender, which soon changed 

 to a brownish colour ; the tail was forked, or 

 rather crescent-shaped. The sucking-plate, of 

 an oval form, was situated on the upper part of 

 the head, and was composed of seventeen trans- 

 verse moveable cartilaginous plates, (but they 

 vary in number, according to the size of the 

 fish,) each armed with minute teeth directed 

 backwards ; from which cause it was difficult to 

 detach the animal in a direction perpendicular 

 or backwards, but it was removed with facility 

 when drawn off in the direction of the head. 



On inspecting the mouth I observed two rows 

 of teeth situated on the margin of each jaw, one 

 internal to the other, the outer row being larger 

 and stronger than the inner ; and it is probable 

 that the inner row is intended, as in the shark, 

 to replace the front row, when lost from time or 

 accident. On the palate were also placed two 

 rows of very fine teeth, and the other parts of 

 the mouth were rough. I made several dried 

 preparations of the head of this fish, which well 

 displayed the form of the disk ; and, by keeping 

 the mouth distended, the rows of teeth could be 

 distinctly seen and examined. 



The fins are, two pectoral, two ventral, one 

 dorsal, and one anal ; the whole of which are of 



