224 NEW SPECIES OF FISHES. (iMay. 



the snout; tail rounded, strong, widi a falciform fin, ter- 

 minating in a distinct, triangular, lanceolate lobe; lower 

 lobe of the fin short and rounded; ventrals small sub- 

 quadrangular, without posterior process; teeth triangu- 

 lar, serrate. 



REFERENCE TO THE PLATE. 

 Fig. 2. the tail viewed from above. Fig. 3. one of the lower 

 teeth; a. tiie denticulations magnificcl. Fig. 4. one of the upper 

 teeth. Fig. 5. an eye, with its nictitant nienibianc. 



S(^UALUs littoralis. Ash- coloured Shark. 



Tail with an undulated carina, slightly notched at 

 the base upwards; pectoral^ ventral, dorsal and anal fins 

 large, not prolonged backwards, the second dorsal more 

 forward than the anal; snout acute; teeth narrow, pointed 

 and undulated. 



Body short, thick, wider towards the abdomen; head 

 flat, dilated between the eyes, and terminating in a point- 

 ed snout, rounded at the end; nostril lobes very short, 

 apertures pretty wide, and laterally placed at the extre- 

 mity of the snout; eyes very small, orbicular, brilliant, 

 iris silvery: these are somewhat above the sides of the 

 snout; branchial apertures five, very large, especially the 

 first, the last much smaller, embracing the base of the 

 pectoral fin; dorsal sub -quadrangular; the pectorals are 

 soft; tail rounded, tapering to a point, and furnished with 

 a falciform fin, terminated by a distinct triangular lobe. 

 The opening of the jaw^s resembles the letter U; teeth long, 

 and in three or four rows, without dentelures. 



Colour a reddish ash gray; abdomen white. 



Newyork market. Length three feet. 



I owe the knowledge of this species to Dr. Mitchill 

 of Newyork. 



