THE SMOOTH HOUND. 417 



of the anal fin, and about mid-way between the first dorsal and the tip 

 of the caudal lobe ; pectorals of a triangular form with the posterior 

 margins cut obliquely, the length equal to the distance from the 

 point of the snout to the temporal orifice, immediately behind the 

 posterior angle of the orbit ; ventrals placed under the middle of the 

 space between the two dorsals, of a triangular form, cut obliquely, and 

 about half the size of the pectorals. Anal rather small, placed under 

 the posterior half of the second dorsal, and answering to it in shape : 

 caudal with the lowerlobe cut obliquely ; theanterior under lobe slightly 

 concave at the posterior margin, and rather larger at the commence- 

 ment. Snout rounded ; nostrils underneath, partly covered with a 

 small cutaneous flap, placed half-way between the tip of the snout 

 and the posterior angle of the mouth ; gape rather small ; under 

 jaw the shortest ; teeth small and blunt, forming a close compacted 

 pavement in each jaw, very similar to those observed in young indi- 

 viduals of Rata clavata. Eyes rather large, of an oblong oval form, 

 placed over the mouth, and about half-way between the point of the 

 snout and the commencement of the second gill-opening ; skin smooth 

 and soft, when the hand is passed from head to tail, but rough in the 

 opposite direction ; gill- openings on each side of the neck, five in 

 number, the last the smallest, and placed immediately over the anterior 

 part of the base of the pectoral; lateral line rather indistinct, and 

 straight throughout its course. 



The most common size of this species of Shark that I 

 have met with in the Firth of Forth is from twenty to five 

 and twenty inches in length. It is generally found in the 

 salmon-nets, along with the common dog-fish, with which it is 

 frequently confounded by many of the fishermen, although, 

 when closely examined, the differences between them are 

 very obvious. On the southern shores of England it is oc- 

 casionally taken the length of three feet or more, and is 

 found in greater numbers on the Cornish and Devonshire 

 coasts than on the eastern shores of Scotland. Dr John- 

 ston has known it taken in Berwick Bay ; Mr Couch says 

 " it is common on the coast of Cornwall, but not abundant, 

 and keeps close to the bottom on clean ground, where it 

 feeds on crustaceous animals which it crushes previous to 

 swallowing, and for which its flat pavement teeth are well 



VOL. VII. d d 



