SMOOTH HOUND. 3. ! )3 



CHONDROPTERYG1I. SQUAL1DM. 



THE SMOOTH HOUND. 



SKATE-TOOTHED SHARK. RAY-MOUTHED DOG, Cornwall. 



Mustelus laevis, L'Emissole, CUVIER, Regne An. t. ii. p. 389. 



Squalus mustelus, LINNAEUS. WILLUGHBY, p. 60, B. 5, f. 2. 



,, ,, Smooth Shark, PENN. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 151. 



Mustelus Itevis, Smooth Hound, FLEM. Brit. An. p. 166, sp. 4. 

 Squalus mustelus, ,, JENYNS, Man. Brit. Vert. p. 502, sp. 192. 



Generic Characters. The same as in the last genus, Galeus, except the 

 pointed teeth, which in this are flat, like those of the Skate. 



THIS Shark is rather a common species round our coast. 

 It is occasionally taken in the Frith of Forth ; and Dr. Flem- 

 ing says the flesh of it is used as food in the Hebrides, and is 

 esteemed a delicate dish. I have received this Shark from 

 Dr. Johnston of Berwick, and have seen it at various places 

 on the coasts of Kent and Sussex. It is called Smooth 

 Hound, from the comparative softness of its skin in reference 

 to British Sharks in general ; and it is also called Ray- 

 mouthed Dog in Cornwall, from the form of its teeth, which 

 are flat and without prominent points, like those of the fe- 

 male or young male of the Thornback. The vignette repre- 

 sents an inside and an outside view of one half of the mouth 

 and teeth of this Shark, which are so different from those of 



VOL. II. 2 D 



