224 On a 8pecime7i c/Pristis cirrhatus. 



The fish brought to me was a female, and measured full 

 5 feet from the extremity of the snout to the end of the 

 tail. The larger of the spines, set along each side of its 

 snout, were strong, bony, trenchant, and pointed; the smaller 

 intermediate spines varied in number from one to three in 

 each space, and wherever the number was three the middle one 

 was the longest and stoutest : but there was no regularity 

 in the number. Besides these there was underneath a series 

 of minute spines in a partially developed state, projecting 

 at right angles with the line of the former series standing 

 singly, pointing slightly backwards, each being a little in 

 advance of the larger spines along the edges. The larger 

 spines were sti£F and straight, without flexibility in their 

 sockets ; the smaller yielded slightly to the pressure of the 

 finger in the backward direction. About the middle of the 

 snout, from orifices on the under side, sprung two Cirrhi, 

 like those of the sturgeon, about 3 or 4 inches in length, 

 fleshy, pliant, and about the size of large whipcord. 



The skin of the female Prist is resembled that of the 

 dog-fish in colour and texture. The reproductive organs 

 were in a favourable state for examination ; for there was 

 found in her two young ones, — the largest 8 inches and 

 the smallest 6 inches in length, — together with 12 eggs, the 

 largest being about the size of a pullet's e^^, — a tolerable 

 proof of the species being ovo-viviparous. The young ones 

 appeared nearly ready for extrusion. The story of the young 

 of some congenerous fishes taking refuge inside the mother 

 is a fable. 



The spines on the snouts of these young ones, although 

 standing at right angles with the edges, are easily laid back 

 close along the sides of this weapon, so as to offer no 

 resistance to its passage through any channel where the head 

 would pass. 



The superior advancement of one of the two young ones. 



