31 



ALOPECIAS. 







This is a genus established by Miillcr and Ilcnle, and described as 

 witli a pointed, conic bead, very small spiracles, small gill openings, 

 and simple triangular teeth, but particularly marked by a very great 

 extension of the tail. It is the genus Alopias of Rafinesquc and 

 Swainson; but the latter writers had overlooked the very small spiracles. 



THRASHER. 



SEA FOX. FOX SHARK, SEA APE. 



Carcharias violpes, Cuviek. Fleming; p. 167. 



Vulpecula marina, Jonston ; p. 27. 



Viilpes marina, Willoughby; p. 54, Tab. B. 6, the figure 



tolerably correct, except in the tail. 



Squalus vzilpes, Jenyns; p. 498. 



" " Yaubell ; British Fishes, vol. 2, p. 522. 



Squale Menard, Lacepede and Risso; Ichth., p. 36. 



" " Gray ; Catalogue of British Museum, p. 130. 



This fish has obtained the name of Fox Shark because of 

 its tail, which, like that of its namesake of the land, is a prin- 

 cipal portion of its distinctive character. But the ancient Greeks 

 and Romans, who were well acquainted with the fish, were not 

 content with finding in it nothing more than this likeness of 

 analogy; and therefore they went on to draw the conclusion 

 that a fish answering to this name must of necessity be endowed 

 with the other distinguishing portions of the foxine character. 



This fish is not recognised in the tenth edition of the System 

 of Linnaeus, but it is the Scjaalus vulpes of Turton's Linnteus. 



The Thrasher, or Sea Fox, is so very rarely taken on a line, 

 that no instance of it has come within mv knowledge: but the 

 reason of this probably amounts to no more than that fishermen 

 do not employ the bait that tempts its appetite, -^lian, how- 



