34 THE RAYS ; RHINOBATID.E. THE SHARKS. 



curious union of the characters of the Sharks and Rays ; the 

 body being of an elongate spindle-shape, with the pectoral fins 

 small, and of much the same form as in the Sharks, and the first 

 dorsal fin situated above the ventrals. From the position of the 

 gill-openings, and the nature of the teeth, however, they evidently 

 belong to the Rays. They are found principally in the seas of 

 warm climates ; and one Brazilian species is said to possess elec- 

 trical powers. The most remarkable form is the Pristis, or Saw- 

 fish ; so named 

 from the extension 

 of its snout into a 

 long flat blade, 

 furnished with a 



FIG. 368. SAW-FISH. TOW of sharp 



spines, resembling teeth, on either side. With this formidable 

 weapon the Saw-fish attacks the largest Whales, and inflicts very 

 severe wounds. It sometimes attains the length of twelve or 

 even fifteen feet. This Fish is very widely distributed, being 

 found in the Arctic, Antartic, and tropical seas ; but it seldom 

 approaches the shore. 



585. The tribe of Sharks, as already indicated, differs from 

 that of the Rays, in having the body of an elongated spindle- 

 shape, the gill-openings placed on the sides of the body, and the 

 teeth large and adapted for cutting. The nearest approach to 

 the Rays is made by the family SQUATINID^:, the Angel, or 

 Monk-fish, in which the body is somewhat depressed, and the 

 pectoral and ventral fins large and broad, so that the Fishes re- 

 semble the Rays a little in their external appearance. The 

 common Angel-fish, or Monk-fish, is found not unfrequently in 

 the British seas. It grows to the length of seven or eight feet, 

 and, like the Rays, swims close to the bottom of the water, feed- 

 ing voraciously upon the Flat-fish. The SCYMNID^E, or Liches, 

 are destitute of an anal fin, but possess two dorsals, neither of 

 which are furnished with spines. The lobes of the caudal fin 

 are nearly equal, and the head is furnished with a pair of small 

 spiracles. The Greenland Shark, an inhabitant of the Arctic 

 seas, is the best known species of this family. It attains a 



