Observations on the Saw Fish. 147 



each edge it was armed with tooth-lite spines, even in line, but 

 irregular in length, varying from one-sixteenth to one-fourth of 

 an inch. 



The pectoral fins, when extended, measured from tip to tip 

 fourteen inches. 



Two tentacula projected from the underside of the snout, three 

 inches in length, and equi-distant from the end. 



The mouth Chevron-shaped, and situated under the base of 

 the snout. 



Upper and lower maxillaries armed with several rows of canine 

 teeth, recurved towards the interior of the mouth. 



The nostrils one and a half inches forward of the mouth, and 

 also situated on the underside of snout, — one and one-fourth inches 

 apart, — the cochleated orifices oval, with curled process on outer 

 free margin of openings. 



Gill openings, five in number, having a ventral aspect. 



Vent opening, situate between the posterior insertion of the 

 ventral fins. 



There are pectoral and ventral fins, but no anal fin. Two 

 dorsal fins (the first being situate over the vent), and a caudal 

 fin of moderate size. 



Eyes large and oval, the greatest diameter being in the 

 direction of the length of the fish. 



Spiracles situated close upon and posterior to the orbits. 



The shape slender, and tapering gradually to the tail. The 

 cross section of the fish through the first dorsal being nearly a 

 triangle with the apex rounded off, the underside of the fish 

 being flat throughout. 



The general colour, light greyish brown on the back, and 

 greyish white on the belly. The skin, as usual in members of 

 the Bay and Shark families. 



The fins soft as usual. 



This fish was captured alive near to Gellibrand's Point in a 

 net, and was immediately placed in a tub of water, where it 

 lived for four hours. Before death it gradually ejected a 

 large quantity of blood through its gill-openings. 



About ten minutes after the capture of the parent fish it 

 parted with fifteen young and well-developed fish, each of which 

 began to swim about feebly, immediately upon passing from 

 the mother. 



The young fish were born with a vitellus attached to the 

 abdomen, the generally assumed use of which, is to afford 

 nourishment to the young animals until they have attained 

 sufficient strength and vigour to provide for themselves. I 



