CHONDROPTERYGII BRANCHIIS FIXIS. 239 



The common species, Sq. maximus, L. (The Basking Shark), has no- 

 thing 1 of the ferocity of the Shark, although it surpasses it in size as well as 

 all other Squali. Individuals have been captured that were more than 

 thirty feet in length. It inhabits the Arctic Seas, but is sometimes driven 

 on the coast of France by the strength of the north-east winds. There are 

 several other subgenera. 



A second genus may be formed of the 



ZYGCENA, Cuv. 



Which to the characters of a Carcharias, adds a form of head of which there 

 is no other example in the animal kingdom. It is horizontally flattened and 

 truncated before, the sides extending transversely in branches, which give 

 it a resemblance to the head of a hammer; the eyes are placed at the ex- 

 tremity of the branches, and the nostrils on their anterior edge. 



The most common species of the European seas, Sq. zygcena,is some- 

 times twelve feet long. 



SQUATINA, Dumer. 



Spiracles, but no anal, as in the third division of the Squali, but differing 

 from all of them in the mouth, which is cleft in the end of the snout and 

 not beneath, and in the eyes, which are placed on its dorsal surface and not 

 on the sides. The head is round, the body broad and horizontally flattened, 

 the pectorals large and extending forwards, but separated from the body by 

 a fissure where the branchial orifices are pierced; the two dorsals are behind 

 the ventrals, and the caudal is attached both above and beneath. The 



Squat, angelus (The Angel-Fish) attains a considerable size in the Euro- 

 pean seas. Its skin is rough, and the edges of the pectorals are furnished 

 with small spines. 



PRISTIS, Lath.(l) 



The Saw Fish forms a fourth genus. To the elongated form of the Squali 

 it unites a body flattened before and branchiae opening below, as in the Rays; 

 but its peculiar chaaracter consists in a very long depressed snout resembling 

 the blade of a sword, armed on each side with stout, bony, trenchant and 

 pointed spines.planted like teeth. This beak, from which these fishes de- 

 rive their name, is a most powerful weapon, and with it they attack the 

 largest Whales. The true teeth of their jaws resemble small paving stones, 

 like those of a Mustelus. 



The common species, Pristis antiquorum, Lath., attains a length of twelve 

 or fifteen feet. 



(1) n/JiVr/f, saw; the Greek name of this fish. 



