TOPE. Oniev* mm. 



SMOOTH HOUND. Musttlvx vtdgdrh. 



Several species of Hammer-headed Sharks are known, among which the Heart- 

 headed Shark (Sphyrnias Tiburo), has the best developed head, and the Broad-headed 

 Shark (Sphyrnias Idticeps), the most so. Another species, the Tudes (Sphyrnias Tudes), 

 thought to inhabit the Mediterranean, and the shores of Southern America, is inter- 

 mediate between the two extremes. 



The general colour of this species is greyish brown above, and greyish white below. 



THE destructive and voracious fish, which is indiscriminately known by the names 

 of TCPE, PENNY DOG, or MILLER'S DOG, according to the particular coast near which 

 it is found, is another familiar British representative of that great shark family, from 

 whose larger developments we are in this favoured country happily free. 



The Tope is commoner towards the southern than the northern coasts, but wherever 

 it is found, it is an intolerable nuisance, behaving itself much after the example set by 

 the blue shark, and being, in proportion to its dimensions, quite as injurious to the fishing 

 interest. Like the last-mentioned species, it produces living young, the number of a 

 single family being about thirty. They are born in May and June, and mostly remain 

 on our coasts through their first winter, not retiring into deep water till they have 

 entered their second year. 



Like the blue shark, the Tope is fond of robbing the fishermen's hooks, and will in 

 like manner endeavour to free itself when hooked, biting through the line, or rolling 

 round with such rapidity that it winds the long cord about its body into tangled knots. 

 The upper surface of the Tope is slaty grey, becoming lighter towards the abdomen, which 

 is nearly white. 



