76 THE PLAGIOSTOMIA. 



Reddish or rusty brown with spots and scattered blotches of brown, ranging 

 in size from small to as large as the eye, or larger, and larger on the flanks; fins 

 maculate. Lower surfaces whitish. 



Young individuals, of six inches in length, have two rows of larger scales 

 on the back, extending from the nape to points opposite the first dorsal and 

 separated from one another by about ten rows of the smaller scales. In these 

 enlarged scales the median cusp is lengthened and broadened and the laterae 

 cusps are small or absent at one side of the median. Specimens of this size are 

 rough and have seven or eight broad transverse bands of brownish on back 

 and flanks in addition to the darker spots. Tips of fins lighter. On one speci- 

 men four of the bands are behind the vent; one band crosses on the nape another 

 between the pectorals a third in front of the dorsal, two others through the 

 dorsals and two across the caudal fins. 



Mediterranean and Eastern Atlantic to the North Sea. 



Catulus retifer. 



Scyllium retiferum Garman, 1881, Bull. M. C. Z., 8, p. 233. 



Scylliorhinus retifer Jordan & Gilbert, 1883, Bull. 16, U. S. nat. mus., p. 869; Jord. & Everm., 1896, 



Bull. 47, U. S. nat. mus., p. 25; Goode & Bean, 1896, Mem. M. C. Z., 22, p. 16, pi. 4, f. 14, 15; 



Regan, 1908, Ann. & mag. nat. hist., ser. 8, 1, p. 457. 



Body cavity nearly half of the total length. Snout depressed, blunt, 

 length about equal to width of mouth. Nostrils much nearer to the mouth 

 than to the end of the snout; anterior valves not reaching to the mouth, widely 

 separated on the internarial space, with an indistinct rudiment of a cirrus; 

 posterior valves short. Length of mouth two thirds of the width, lower lip 

 with a fold at the angle reaching about one fourth of the distance to the symphy- 

 sis. Eye moderate; lower lid apparently translucent or transparent, closing 

 inside of the upper. Spiracle very small, close to the corner of the eye. Gill 

 openings small, hindmost two above the bases of the pectorals. Dorsals small; 

 first dorsal origin at a very short distance behind the ends of the bases of the 

 ventrals, tip reaching the origin of the anal; second dorsal half as large as the 

 first, origin above the posterior fourth of the base of the anal, nearly two thirds 

 of the base extending behind that of the anal. Subcaudal short, narrow, widest 

 at mid length. Ventrals of males partly united above the claspers. Scales 

 small, with three to five keels. 



Light brown or reddish brown, crossed at irregular intervals by groups of 

 two to four narrow black lines which are joined, toward the flanks, by short 

 lines in such a manner as to enclose polygonal areas, thus forming a network in 



