286 Mr. A. Strickland on Squalus spinosus, 



the anterior side was formed into two much smaller points, pointing in 

 different directions. There was no tongue, nor any appearance of one. 

 the bottom of the mouth being smooth and hard. Seven inches from 

 the mouth commenced the brachial openings, which were five in number, 

 all placed in front of the pectoral fin ; the first was 3 inches long, each 

 increasing in size to the last, which was 6 inches. Immediately behind the 

 centre of these commenced the pectoral fin, which was 11 inches in length, 

 very thick and fleshy in substance, particularly at the base, the poste- 

 rior edge thin and flexible ; but as in all the fins except the tail, there 

 were no perceptible fin rays or membrane, all being smooth and fleshy. 

 This fin opened perfectly horizontally, or at right angles to the sides of 

 the fish. Eighteen inches behind these commenced the ventral fins, 

 which were equally thick and fleshy, 14 inches long and 11 inches 

 broad, cut nearly square ; between the posterior base of these fins was 

 placed the vent. The space from that to the lower end of the tail was 

 only 17 inches ; from this point to the upper extremity of the tail was 

 23 inches, in one unbroken line, there being no distinct lobes of the tail 

 as in most of the shark tribe. The edge of the tail was composed of 

 indistinct fleshy rays covered with smooth membrane. A little behind 

 a perpendicular line above the anterior base of the ventral fin was 

 placed the first dorsal fin, which was 6 inches long, upon a base of 

 the same length ; 4 inches behind this was placed a second fin, similar 

 in all respects, except perhaps being cut a little more square at the 

 end. From the front of the first of these fins to the end of the nose 

 was a space of about 5 feet, without any other fin or projection except 

 the small spines before mentioned. The colour of the fish was when 

 I saw it, a few hours after it was caught, a nearly uniform reddish 

 slate-colour, somewhat lighter on the lower parts ; but it was 

 described by the fisherman who caught it as having been more of a 

 red cast, with blotches of a lighter colour, before it died. 



The peculiar characters of this fish consist in the smooth slimy 

 spinous skin (resembling in this respect some of the Ray tribe), the 

 thick fleshy fins with the five brachial openings all placed in front 

 of the pectoral fins, in having no central dorsal fin, no temporal 

 orifices, no anal fins. In these respects it differs from any fish hitherto 

 described as a British species. Nor does it agree with any I have 

 been able to discover in any work I have yet had an opportunity of 

 referring to. Arthur Strickland. 



Burlington Quay. 



This species is the Echmorhinus obesus of Smith, who says in reference 

 to it, " This shark is comparatively rare at the Cape of Good Hope. 



