230 The Zoologist— May, 1866. 



Greenland Shark (Sqiialus borealis) on the Dogger Bank. — Two of tbese predaoions 

 fish were lately exhibited by some fishermen in a neighbouring sea-port, under the 

 name of " sea elephants." I was informed they were captured in February on that 

 well-known fishing-ground, the famous Dogger Bank. On opening them a large 

 quantity of cod and ling, &c., were found in their stomachs. I expected to have seen 

 the actual carcases of these monsters, and was disappointed in finding only the 

 stuffed skins. The true form of the fish had, however, been very well preserved, 

 alihuugh the artist had given them a most extraordinary pair of unshark-like eyes. 

 On reference to Couch's ' British Fishes,' 1 was enabled to identify these fish as the 

 Greenland shark; and as Mr. Couch states that only three or four instances have been 

 known of their appearing so far south of the icy sea as the British coasts, probably 

 some short notice of theui may be found interesting. The northern extremity of the 

 Dogger Bank is in latitude 67° 24', consequently they must have wandered far south 

 of their usual cruising-grouud within the arctic circle. T did not measure these fish, 

 but judge they were not less than 12 to 14 feet in length, with a girth in the widest 

 part of upwards of six feet, gradually tapering to the tail. Fins and tail small for the 

 size of the fish; gill-openings small and five in number; skin very rough; the moulh 

 larger, with the internal liuing set with a perfect arsenal of offensive weapons. 

 I counted eight rows of teeth; Mr. Couch says nine, and it is quite possible I may 

 have overlooked a row. The position and character of these teeth exactly answer the 

 description given in the first volume of Fishes of the British Isles,' page 59, and the 

 plate, page 66. The "Old Bushman," in 'Ten Years in Sweden,' says this species 

 " has been occasionally taken on the south coast of Sweden," and that " it is the only 

 shark which is known to come on the coasts of Finland east of the North Cape." — 

 John Cordeaux ; April 11, 1866. 



Description of the Larva of Scoria dealbala. — My notes on the earlier stages of this 

 species are not so satisfactory as 1 could wish, for they were jotted down in a busy 

 time ; but, as far as they go, I believe them to be correct. On 2nd July, 1864, I 

 received indirectly from Mr. Wilks (late of Ash ford), some eggs which began to hatch 

 on the 7th. I scarcely know any larva whieh varies so little in tint throughout its 

 growth: of course as the bulk increases more lines and mottlings appear, but they are 

 all of the same ochreous and gray tint throughout. Mr. Stainton, in the ' Annual' for 

 1862, has described the larva just before hybernation, when he says it was -^ths 

 of an inch in length ; but the three which I succeeded in retaining (some dozen 

 others escaped, from my not being able to attend to them in time) grew to a full 

 inch in length before they ceased feeding; all through the winter I noticed that, 

 except in the coldest weather, they remained extended on the leno covering of 

 their fluwer-pol,as though very fond of fresh air. On the 14th of February they began 

 eating again, and grew slowly till the middle of April, when they changed skin for tlie 

 last time. About the middle of May they seemed to have attained their full size, and 

 began spinning about the 20ih. When full grown this larva is a longish, stout-looking 

 smooth looper, tapering considerably from the hinder segments towards the head; the 

 length \\ inch; the head flat and rounded at the sides; the anal flap large. The 

 general colour ochreous or brownish gray; but ornamented with so many waved 



