852 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
and I accordingly suggest for it Selachus Pennantii. I do not understand 
that its habits are at all those of the true Basking Shark. I have never 
heard that it has been seen on the surface of the water; and it differs from 
the Basking Shark proper, Selachus maximus, as much as it is possible 
for one Shark to differ from another.—T#omas Cornisu (Penzance). 
[On turning to the 8th vol. of Dr. Giinther’s ‘ Catalogue of Fishes,’ we 
find (p. 894) that the author regards both the fish described by Pennant 
and that described by Couch as identical with the Common Basking Shark, 
Selache maxima. ‘The weight of this large and gelatinous fish would 
cause it to be much distorted when cast ashore, and one might be easily led 
to suppose that a specimen thus misshapen was something different from 
the common species. Having regard to the synonymy given by Dr. 
Giinther, it seems to us unnecessary to propose a new specific name.—ED. } 
Food of the Basking Shark and Herring.—Couch, no mean authority, 
says “the food of this fish is not known.” Dr. Day has lately expressed 
an opinion on the subject (antea, p. 235). After examining the stomach of 
a large Basking Shark stranded on a rocky ledge off Shanklin, in February, 
1875, I remarked (Zool. 1875, p. 4415) that in the stomach “ nothing but 
a glutinous substance was found, which was submitted to a microscopic 
inspection. The analyst who examined it failed to ascertain of what it was 
composed; sea-weed was suggested, and he seemed to think it might be 
that. The matter contained in the sporules of the genus Mucus is of a 
glutinous nature, somewhat resembling the substance in question.” When 
residing on the east coast of Scotland [ endeavoured to find out on what 
the Herring feeds, opening and examining several recently netted, but 
nothing but a little pulpy glutinous matter, in a semi-liquid state,—possibly 
digested spawn,—was found in the cloacum. The smallness of the intestine 
—less than one-fifth of an inch in diameter—seems to offer an effectual 
bar to auy but the merest fry being swallowed. ‘The recently published 
remarks, however, of Mr. Matthias Dunn (antea, p. 236) suggest that the 
pulpy glutinous matter which I found in the Herrings which I examined 
consisted not of digested spawn, as I supposed, but of the spores of sea- 
weeds.— Henry Haprigcp (High Cliff, Ventnor). 
Thrasher or Fox Shark at Rye.—On July 14th a Thrasher or Fox 
Shark, Squalus vulpes, was caught in some mackerel-nets at Rye Bay, 
Sussex, and was brought into Hastings for exhibition. It measured eleven 
feet in length. The colour of the body and fius was dark dull blue, and 
the belly white and mottled. Its weight was 250 tbs.—F. V. THroBaLp 
(Kingston). 
Fox Sharks on the Coast of Devon.—On the 6th of August two 
Thrashers or Fox Sharks, Squalus vulpes, were caught in Torbay by a 
Paiguton fisherman named Lewis, oue of which measured nine and the other 
