FAMILY SQUALID^ SQUATINA. 303 



ay between the first and second dorsals, with a narrow puintod tip behind. Anal somewhat 

 larger, but similar in shape lu the second dorsal, rather more excavated on its posterior mar- 

 gin. Caudal diual in length to the transverse diameter of the head; the lower lobe short; 

 the upper with a small triangular lobe near its tip. 



Color. Uniform dusky grey, with a very slight tinge of reddish brown ; cinereous beneath. 



Length, 25-0; of the head 2-0 ; width of ditto, 6-5. Height of first dorsal, 2-5. 



This was captured in September, in a seine, in the harbor of New-York, in company with 

 several others. I have seen them in Hellgate four feet long. Dr. Mitchill notices three which 

 were taken in 1S05, at Riverhead, Suffolk county, in a net. The largest was eleven feet 

 long ; and on opening him, many detached parts of a man, together with his clothing, were 

 found in his stomach. 



It is popularly termed Sliovcl-nosc, and ILimmcr-hcad, by our fishermen, and is much 

 dreaded for its boldness and ferocity. The existence of the 6'. tiburo on our coast, as yet 

 rests upon very doubtful authority. 



The Hammer-headed Shark is found on both sides of the Atlantic. It ranges on the 

 American coast from Brazil to the shores of Nantucket, south of Cape Cod, which is the 

 most extreme northern limit yet recorded. 



GENUS SQUATINA. Dumcnl. 



Body hruud, flattened horizontall i/ . Pectorals very wide, extending fonvard, but separated 

 from the head by a cleft in ivhich arc placed the branchial apertures. Head round. Eyes 

 above. Mouth vertical. No anal. Both dorsals behind the ventrals. Tc/nporal orifices. 



Obs. This genus forms, by its compressed figure, dilated jicctorals and other particulars, a 

 natural passage to the succeeding family. Some recent systematic writers have in fact made 

 it the representative of a distinct group in that family ; but, as we think, witii little propriety. 



THE AMERICAN ANGEL-FISH. 



SaUATINi DUMERII,!. 

 PLATK LXII. FIG. 203. 

 Hfjuniirta thtmcriU. Lesueuk, Jour. Ac.^d. Nat. Sciences, Vol. 2, p. 225, pi. 10. 



Characteristics. Head bordered on each side by a white membrane. Abdomen, throat and 

 ventral fins marked by red spots. Nostrils with a broad ciliated skin on 

 each side. Length three to four feet. 



Description. Body flattened, broad, and elevated towards the pectorals. Tail attenuated 

 and sharp-edged. Head wider than long, obtuse, emarginalcd in front between the nostrils, 

 depressed above and between the eyes. Neck rather tumid and distinct. Eyes small ; orbit 

 elevated, and furnished with blunt tubercles; similar ones above the nostrils and between tiic 



