225 



species of Carcharias previously described, and preserved in the 

 x\ustralian Museum. It measured as follows : — 



feet, inches. 

 Length from the extremity of the nose to the 



tail 13 



Circumference round the neck 5 6 



Length from one end of the pectoral fin to that 



of the other 6 2 



Length of pectoral fins 2 4 



Circumference of the body below the pectoral fins 7 



Length of dorsal fin 1 10 



of tail 2 10 



of ventral fins I 1 



of anal fins 5 



of second dorsal fin 5 



The contents of the stomach were large quantities of horse-flesh, 

 as it was feeding upon a dead horse when captured. In the upper 

 jaw there was apparently one row of large teeth, and at the angle 

 there were two teeth of a second row, the largest tooth measuring 

 \\ inch in length. In the lower jaw there were two rows of teeth. 

 The teeth were inclined backwards and moveable. On a further and 

 more minute examination it was discovered that five rows or more of 

 teeth, fully formed, and well-serrated at their edges, were lying down 

 under the loose thick skin or gum, inside the mouth, either to be 

 elevated if required, or to supply the place of the front rows, when 

 damaged or broken by accident. 



I have observed the teeth in many Sharks disposed in five or 

 more rows, the first and second rows erect, the others recumbent and 

 concealed by a kind of gum. 



In the early days of the settlement of New South Wales the oil of 

 the Shark was found to be of great use. Collins states that " nothing 

 was lost ; " even the Shark was found to contain a certain supply ; 

 the oil which was procured from its liver was sold at I«. a quart ; and 

 but very few houses in the colony were fortunate enough to enjoy 

 the pleasant light of a candle. Even now at the (Xistom House 

 station at Botany Bay Heads, Mr. Brett told me he captured the 

 Spotted Tiger Shark, which species is very numerous about that 

 locality. Watt's Shark, and other kinds, for the sake only of the 

 oil to be prodviced from the livers, which he found very serviceable 

 for lamps. 



In the stomach of a Shark, near the pyloric orifice, I found a large 

 quantity of Entozoa, varying in length, of a white colour and flat- 

 tened form. These, being placed with a portion of the stomach in 

 sea-water, displayed great vitality, rapidly elongating and contract- 

 ing themselves ; but they soon died on being immersed in fresh water, 

 which was done previous to placing them in spirits. 



A question may arise if any annoyance is produced to the Shark 

 by the multitudes of these parasites ; they could hardly have sufii- 

 cient power to irritate the stomach of a fish that swallows, and, as it 



No. 398. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



