DESCRIPTION OF A SQUALUS. 345 



Notwithstanding these inaccuracies however, much 

 credit is due to the individual who prepared this 

 skin, as it presents a good idea of the form and mag- 

 nitude of this elephant shark. 



The following description and remarks were made 

 of the animal in the state above described : 



Body fusciform, more elongated towards the tail 

 than the 8. Peregrinus, described by Mr. Blainville, 

 Ann. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. torn. 18, p. 88, tab. 6, 

 fig. 1. 



Total length, when recent 32 feet 10 inches, cir- 

 cumference 18 feet — of the dried skin 22 feet, and 9 

 feet 7 inches and 4 lines in circumference. 



Skin rude to the touch, particularly on passing 

 the hand forward, being covered with numerous 

 small, horny, somewhat curved points, of the length 

 of about one-third of a line. These small points are 

 assembled in groups so as to form numerous undulated 

 abbreviated bands, united at their extremities and 

 again dividing; their breadth, on the middle of the 

 body, is about two lines, and they give to the whole 

 surface the appearance of being wrinkled ; these 

 bands or wrinkles are transverse on the whole body 

 from the termination of the branchial openings to the 

 posterior extremity of the candal carina, where they 

 disappear; on the head, throat, and behind the spi- 

 racle they are longitudinal, upon the branchial lami- 

 na and above the pectoral fins they become oblique, 

 on the latter their direction complies with the move- 

 ment of the articulation of the fins ; all the fine are 



43 



