THE SriXOUS SHARK. 35 



been found in the stomach of the Blue Shark, the Ling, and other fishes. It is eaten, both fresh aiid 

 salted, by the fishermen of the West of England, and Lacepede records that in the North of Europe the 

 eggs, which consist of pale-coloured yolk, and have the size of a small orange, are highly valued as an 

 article of food. The usual length of the fish is between eighteen inches and two feet. The female is 

 larger than the male, and old specimens have been found which weighed twelve pounds. The top of the 

 head is flat. The first dorsal tin, which is rather small, is placed a third of the length of the animal 

 from the snout ; the second dorsal fin is midway between the fii-st and the end of the tail. The 

 upper part of the body is of a slaty -grey, and the under parts are yellowish-white. From head to tail the 

 skin is smooth, but in the opposite direction rather rough. The species ranges throughout the Euro- 

 pean seas, and is taken in the western part of the Mediterranean, at the Cape of Good Hope, and 

 on the coasts of Australia. The dorsal spines are distinguished by having no longitudinal groove on 

 the sides, a feature which is also characteristic of the Mediterranean species Acanthias uyatus. 



The genus Centrophorus is represented by eight species. In one of these (CentrojJtorus 

 ccelolepis), from the coasts of Portugal and Madeira, the dorsal spines are hidden beneath the skin. 

 All the species are covered with scales, and in three there are from four to six keels on each scale ; 

 in two there is only a single median keel. Another species has three strong ribs on each scale, each 

 rib terminating in a point, and in all these species the spines of the dorsal fins project beyond the 

 skin. The species are all small, rarely exceeding a length of three feet, and the colour is generally 

 brownish-black. 



The genus Spinax occurs in the European seas, and one species (Spinax pusillus) ranges across 

 the Atlantic from Cuba to Madeira. Both species are of brown or black colour, and reach a length 

 of twelve or fourteen inches. 



The genus Centroscy Ilium is known only from a single species from Greenland, about two feet 

 six inches in length. 



Szymnits Uchia is from the Mediterranean and Atlantic. 



Lfeniargus has one representative in the Mediterranean and another (Lcemargus borealis) in the 

 Arctic seas, where it attains a length of twenty-five feet. Smaller specimens of this species from time 

 to time visit British shores. According to Scoresby, it is an enemy of the Great Greenland Whale. 

 It often bites pieces out of the flesh of the living animal, but when the Whale is dead it gorges itself 

 upon the blubber, and refuses to be driven away, even though pierced through with a spear. It will 

 also feed on small fishes and crabs. When fresh it is brown, deeply shaded with blue. The rows of 

 teeth vary with age, from two to six. The simple cusps in all the i-ows diverge laterally from the centre. 



The genus Eu pro torn icrus is known from a small species found in the Indian Ocean. 



Echinorhinus also has but one species, which is known as 



THE SPINOUS SHARK.* 



The Spinous Shark ranges in the Atlantic from the shores of Britain to the Cape of Good 

 Hope, and sometimes enters the Mediterranean. It is of an awkward shape, and is remarkable for 

 small fins and small tail. It would appear to feed chiefly upon Crustacea. The liver of a specimen 

 five feet and a half long yielded a gallon of oil, but specimens have been taken between eight and 

 nine feet long. The body is covered with sharp spines, which are absent from the snout and fins 

 and from the belly. The dorsal fins are close together, and both near the tail. It has been taken in 

 the trawl-net, and on lines baited with Cuttle-fish. The fins have a reddish-brown colour ; the eyes 

 arc green ; the sides and belly are reddish-yellow, with vermilion blotches. The gape of the jaw is 

 wide, and the teeth are large, compressed, and have the cutting surface horizontal, usually with two 

 cusps on each side. The bases of the spines on the body are circular, and the spines are slightly 

 recurved. The lateral line is well marked ; it originates above the five openings for the gills, and 

 extends backwards to the commencement of the caudal fin, which it then ascends to its upper 

 extremity. 



FAMILY VIIL RHINIDJE. 

 This family contains only tin Monk-fish, or Angel Shark. 



* Echinorhinus spinosus. 



