62 



SQUALID.E. 



In the sketch of the Natural History of Yarmouth and 

 its Vicinity, by C. J. and James Paget, which I liave fre- 

 quently had the pleasure to refer to in the History of the 

 British Birds, and also in the British Fishes, it is stated at 

 page 17 that a specimen of the Sqimlus zygoena^ or Ham- 

 mer-headed Shark, was taken there in October 1829, and 

 deposited in the Norwich Museum ; and by the kindness 

 and influence of J. H. Gurney, Esq. of Norwich, I have 

 had the loan of drawings that were made from this Shark sent 

 to London for my use in this work. 



Among the numerous species included in the genus 

 Squalus of Linnaeus, — and I might say, indeed, in the 

 whole class of Fishes, — there is no form more extraordinary 

 than that of the Hammer-headed Sharks, four species of 

 which are noticed in the memoir by M. Valenciennes here 

 quoted, where they are considered as a sub-genus, under 

 the name of Zygcsna. 



The Hammer-headed Shark taken on the coast of Norfolk, 

 being also a native of the Mediterranean Sea, has been long 

 known, and is figured in the works of Bclon, Rondelet, and 

 Salvianus, as already quoted. Its greatest singularity con- 

 sists in the extraordinary form of the head ; but its habits, 

 as far as they are known, afford no physiological illustration 

 of this very remarkable structure. In other respects it is 

 very like the Sharks in general. This species is said to be 

 ferocious, to frequent deep water, and measures from seven 

 to eight feet in length. Baron Cuvier states that it has 

 been known to attain the length of twelve feet. The female 

 produces ten or twelve young ones in spring, which acquire 

 considerable size by the end of autumn. In some countries 

 the flesh of several species of Sharks is eaten, but that of the 

 Hammer-headed Shark is said to be not only hard, but very 

 unpleasant both in smell and flavour. 



