414 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



during autumn on the northern coast. Several specimens 

 have been taken in the Firth of Forth, principally in the 

 herring- nets, among which they are very destructive. They 

 feed on fishes and pursue their prey in companies. Dr 

 Johnston has met with examples in Berwick Bay. They 

 are ovoviviparous, and their flesh is seldom made use of, ex- 

 cept as bait for other fishes. The essential characters of 

 this species are : the first dorsal fin before the ventrals ; 

 all the branchial openings before the pectoral except the 

 last, which is situated obliquely over the anterior extremity 

 of the base of that fin ; teeth serrated on both edges ; anal 

 fin present ; temporal orifices wanting ; snout pyramidal. 



Genus GALE US. — First dorsal fin in advance of the 

 ventrals ; anal fin present ; temporal orifices present ; the 

 last branchial opening above the pectoral ; teeth sharp. 



Galeus vulgaris.* — The Common Tope. 



Description. — From a small male specimen fourteen inches in length. 

 Body fusiform, greatest thickness in the region of the pectorals ; snout 

 depressed; end of the tail compressed ; from the point of the snout 

 to the second gill-opening on the neck exactly one -fifth of the en- 

 tire length ; first gill-opening is placed mid- way between the end 

 of the snout and the commencement of the first dorsal fin. Co- 

 lour of the back and sides dusky grey ; belly dirty white. Snout 

 pointed, slightly rounded at the tip, projecting, about the length of 

 the base of the first dorsal fin, beyond the anterior margin of the 

 upper jaw ; nostrils small, placed beneath, considerably nearer Ihe 

 mouth than to the point of the snout, and a very little in advance of 

 the anterior extremity of the orbit. Mouth large, the angle extend- 

 ing back as far as in a line with the posterior extremity of the orbit ; 

 under jaw shortest ; teeth sharp pointed, of a triangular form, placed 

 in three or four rows in each jaw, the inner edge of each strongly den- 

 ticulated, the outer edge, which is placed obliquely, smooth and 

 cutting. Eyes large of an oblong-oval, situated over the mouth ; 



* Galeus vulgaris, Cuv., Yarr. Sr/ualus galeus, Jen. Penny Dog, Mil- 

 ler^s Dog. 



