120 THA ANGEL. 



The ventral fins arc placed in the fame manner as the 

 pecloral, and to tiiem is annexed en each fide the double 

 penis, that characlerifes this and the ormer genus. Up- 

 on the back, and farther down thaii the anus, there are 

 two dorfal fins : The tail is bifurcated, the upper lobe 

 rather larger than the under ; a charafter belonging to all 

 the Iharks. 



This fpecies is defcribed by Rondeletius as an inbabi- 

 tant of the MediterraTiean ; it is alfo feen frequently on 

 the Britijh coafts, where it preys voracioufly upon the 

 flat fifh that frequents the bottom of the water. The flelli 

 is in no req^ueft, but feems loathed in every country, on 

 account of its rank flavour and hardnefs : Its ova, when 

 dried, are ufed for medicinal purpofes, and are fuppofed 

 by the Italian fifliermen to be efEcacious in removing a 

 diarrhoea*. The Turks upon the Barbary cozii, apply the 

 {kin in the manufacture of Iheaths for fwords, which 

 they are faid to fabricate with peculiar neatnefs f . None 

 of the ufes, however, in which the parts of this malig- 

 nant monfier are employed, feem capable of compenfating 

 the dangers to which feamen are continually expofed^ 

 from its voracious habiis. 



* Rondeletius de pifcibus. f Jovius. 



