1887.] PROF. T.J. PARKER ON CARCHARODON RONDELETII. 27 



2. Notes on Carcharodon rondeletii. By T. Jeffery 

 Parker^ B.Sc, C.M.Z.S., Professor of Biology in tlie 

 University of Otago^ Nevr Zealand. 



(Plates IV.-VIII.) 



[Eeceived NoTember 1, 1886.] 



Contents. 



Page 

 Introductory 27 



1. External Characters 28 



2. The Teeth 29 



3. The Skeleton 29 



a. Vertebral Column 30 



b. SkuU 31 



c. Skeleton of Fins 34 



Page 



4. Alimentary Organs 34 



5. The Heart 35 



6. Urinogenital Organs 35 



7. The Brain 36 



Description of Plates 38 



Dr. Giinther states, in his 'Study of Fishes,' published in 1880, 

 that nothing is known of the anatomy, hahits, and reproduction of 

 this, the most formidable of all Sharks, and that no opportunity 

 should be lost in obtaining information about it. 



As no fewer than four specimens of Carcharodon rondeletii have 

 been caught in the neighbourhood of Dunedin during the last six 

 years, upon all of which I have been able to make some observations, 

 I have decided to put these upon record, in spite of the fact that 

 they are, from a variety of circumstances, detached and imperfect, 

 and are very far from giving anything like a complete account of this 

 very interesting Selachian. 



The following enumeration of the specimens vfhich have come 

 under my notice is given for convenience of reference. 



Specimen A. — Male, 10 ft. (3 metres) long. Caught at Moeraki, 

 about 40 miles north of Dunedin, early in 1881. The viscera, 

 including the heart, were removed before bringing thefish to Dunedin. 

 The skeleton was prepared and is now in the Otago University 

 Museum. 



Specimen B. — Female, 12 ft. 6 in. (3-8 metres) long. Caught 

 in Otago Harbour early in 1885. This specimen was also evisce- 

 rated, only the heart being left. Its skeleton was prepared and 

 sent to the Colonial and Indian Exhibition \ 



Specimen C. — Female, 19 ft. (5-7 metres) long. At the beginning 

 of the present year two large Sharks were reported in the Lower 

 Harbour, and several attempts to catch them were made by the 

 local fishermen. After one or two failures (the Shark on one 

 occasion having broken away with a large hook in its mouth) the 

 larger of the two was caught and exhibited in Dunedin. After it 

 had been on view for a few days I bought it for the museum, and 

 was able to make some observations on its external anatomy, in 

 spite of the advanced state of decomposition. This specimen was 

 stuffed, and is now in the Otago University Museum. 



1 This specimen is now in the Natural-History Museum, South Kensington. 



