THE COMMON TOPE. 415 



branchial openings five, arranged in a longitudinal series on each side 

 of the neck ; the first four nearly of equal size ; the last, which is 

 placed immediately over the anterior extremity of the base of the 

 pectoral, somewhat smaller than the rest ; a little behind the pos- 

 terior angle of the orbit is situated a small temporal orifice about the 

 size of a pin's head ; skin rough when the hand is passed from tail to 

 head, but smooth in the opposite direction. First dorsal fin placed 

 half-way between the tip of the nose and the end of the second 

 dorsal ; somewhat of a quadrangular form, its base about equalling the 

 height of the anterior part ; the posterior extremity ending in an acute 

 point. Second dorsal fin placed about half-way between the first 

 dorsal and the end of the tail, and corresponding to the former in 

 shape, but of half the size. The extremity of the caudal lobe ob- 

 liquely truncated, the anterior lower portion somewhat of a triangu- 

 lar form, concave at the posterior margin, and much larger than the 

 rest of the lobe. Anal rather small, situated under the lower part of 

 the second dorsal. Ventrals placed in the middle of the space be- 

 tween the two dorsals, cut obliquely at their lower edges. Pectoral 

 rather larger than the first dorsal, approaching to triangular, rounded 

 at the upper border and concave at the posterior margin. 



The Tope Shark is frequently taken in the Firth of Forth, 

 and specimens of three feet or more in length are now in 

 the College Museum of Edinburgh, obtained from that 

 quarter. Dr Johnston has observed it on the coast of Ber- 

 wick. " On the Cornish coast," says Mr Yarrell, " this is 

 a common and rapacious species, but is not so destructive 

 as the Blue Shark. The larger specimens, which are about 

 six feet long, abound chiefly in summer ; and the young, to 

 the number of thirty or more, are excluded all at once from 

 the female in May and June. They do not reach the full 

 size until the second year, and continue with us through 

 the first winter, while those of larger size retire into deep 

 water. No use is made of this fish beyond melting the 

 liver for oil. When caught on the fishermen's lines, this 

 fish sometimes has recourse to the same attempt at deliver- 

 ance as the Blue Shark, by twisting the line throughout 

 the whole length round its body." 



