178 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



The most dangerous of our local sharks is the Grey Nurse of 

 the Sydney fishermen, or Bull Shark ( Odontaspis Americaniis or 

 iaurus). This is the fellow who is the hero of most of our shark 

 fatalities. He comes into the Bay chiefly in the summer time, 

 and makes a record most seasons. He reaches lo feet in length, 

 and his mouth is edged with rows of long, sharp, awl-shnped teeth. 

 He is a decidedly iVustralian shark. 



The Carpet and Angel sharks are ground sharks, and adapted 

 to their station in life by their form and colouring. The Carpet 

 Shark {Crossorhinus barbattis), or Wobbigong, is from 5 feet to 7 feet 

 long, somewhat flattened, with the back brown, marbled with 

 grey, so as to simulate the appearance of the sea bottom. 

 Further, to imitate the tufts of weed, the head is " bearded," i.e., 

 furnished with a number of skinny appendages. It is probably 

 tolerably abundant, but as it lies in deep water it is not very often 

 seen, unless it has risen in the pursuit of its prey. The Angel-fish 

 [Rlwia squatina) lives upon the flat-fish, and is constructed 

 to meet its requirements. The name was given to, it on 

 account of its form. The pectoral fins are widely expanded 

 in the plane of the depressed body, and these are the angel's 

 wings which have so impressed the fishermen of the old world. 

 The head is flattened and broadened too, so that the fish has 

 more or less of the shape of a fiddle. The Angel lies in wait 

 in disguise, like a ray, until his keen but somewhat hidden eyes 

 detect a flounder or plaice (himself disguised, but, alas ! not 

 sufiiciently) swimming in wave-like motion close by. Then the 

 Angel flops upon the prey, and by the motions of his great fins 

 works it into his rather awkwardly situated mouth. These Angels 

 are to be found where flat-fish, then, most do congregate. 



An Englishman coming to Victorian shores finds the Tope and 

 Smooth-hound very much like those he is familiar with, but notices 

 the absence of spotted dog-fish. These last are the commonest 

 sharks in the English Channel, and do much mischief in and to 

 the fishermen's nets. There is only one Victorian species 

 {Parascylltnm michale) described by Prof M'Coy, and that is not 

 often seen. It is recognizable by its shark form, and the large 

 black blotches irregularly dispersed over its skin. The Tope and 

 Smooth-hound are our commonest sharks, found in great numbers 

 all around the coasts. They are ground feeders, but are quick 

 enough in their movements. Both have finely shagreened skins, 

 grey-blue on the back and pale beneath. The Tope has sharp 

 teeth for tearing flesh, &c., and the Smooth-hound rounded teeth 

 for crushing shells and crustaceans. Both are slightly different 

 from the European forms, and so systematic authorities make 

 them distinct species. The separate names, Galeus anstralis 

 and Mustelus autardicus, are useful, at all events, to call attention 

 to local variations. Our Picked Dog-fish {^AcantJiias vulgaris), it 

 seems, has found no champion to mention its distinctness from 



