724 PLAGIOSTOMATA-SELACHOIDEI. 



Family, IV— SCYLLIID^. 



Spiracles present. Eye without any nictitating membrane. Mouth inferior. Teeth small, several 

 rows being generally in use. The first dorsal fin spineless, placed above or behind the ventrals : an anal 

 present, which may be in front of, below, or behind the second dorsal. 



SYNOPSIS OF INDIAN GENERA. 

 A.— Nasal and buccal cavities separate. 



1. Scyllimn. The upper edge of the caudal fin smooth. 



B.— Nasal and buccal cavities confluent. 



2. Oinglymostoma. Small spiracles behind the eyes. The second dorsal and anal fins are nearly opposite 

 one another, p. 725. 



3. Stegostoma. Snout obtuse. Caudal portion of body and fin very long, p. 725. 



4. Chiloseyllium. No appendages on the head. Spiracles below the eye and well developed. Anal fin 

 some distance posterior to the second dorsal, p. 726. 



A. — Nasal and buccal cavities separate. 



Genus, 1 — ScTLLiUM, Ouvier. 



Soylliorhinus, HalcBlv/nis, Poroderma, and OephaloscylUiMn, Gill. 



Spiracles behind the eye. Nasal and buccal cavities distinct. Teeth small, in several rows : usually with a 

 central and one or two lateral cusps. Origin of anal fin in advance of that of the second dorsal : upper edge of caudal 

 not serrated. 



These sharks, or " dog fishes," do not attain to any large size, but are much dreaded by fishermen, as 

 they get entangled in their nets, from which great injury occurs. Their eggs are similar to those of the fiays. 

 Habitat. — Tropical and temperate seas. 



SYNOPSIS OP SPECIES. 



1. Scyllium ma/mioratum. Nasal valves confluent with a single transverse uninterrupted flap and a 

 well-developed labial fold. Brown spots, bands, or ocelli. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, and 

 beyond. 



2. Scyllium Gapense. Nasal valves not confluent and separated from one another by a considerable 

 interspace. Dark, lighter beneath. Seas of India to the Cape. 



1. Scyllium marmoratum, Plate CXC, fig. 2. 



Bennett, Life of Sir S. Raffles, p. 693 ; Giinther, Catal. viii, p. 400. 



Scyllium maculatum, Gray and Hardw. Ind. Zool. ; Richards. I.ch. China, p. 193 ; Miiller and Henle, 

 Plagios. p. 5, t. vii ; Cantor, Calal. Mai. Fish. p. 391 ; Blocker, Plagios. p. 16, and Beng. p. 80 ; DumerU, Hist. 

 Nat. Poiss. i, p. 319 ; Kner, Nov. Fisc. p. 412 (not Bl. Sch.). 



Length cf the snout equals the width of the mouth. Nasal valves confluent in the form of a single broad 

 flap, with a free posterior edge, and no cirrus. A well developed labial fold. GiU-openings as wide as the orbit. 

 Teeth — small. Fins — first dorsal commences just behind the ventral : the second dorsal slightly larger than the 

 first and has the anal beneath its anterior 1/2 or 2/3. Colours — of a tawny brown, becoming lighter beneath. Lines 

 of spots, some of which occasionally become confluent, exist along the body : there may also be bands or ocelli. 



This species, so far as I am aware, does not appear to be common in India, where I never met with an 

 example. 



Habitat. — Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago. The figure is taken from Hardwicke's type of 

 Scyllium maculatum, 18 inches in length, and still in the British Museum. 



5. Scyllium Capense, Plate CXC, fig. 1. 



Miiller and Henle, Plagiost. p. 11 ; Dumeril, Hist. Nat. Poiss. i, p. 320 ; Gunther, Catal. viii, p. 404. 

 Snout obtuse. Nasal valves distinct, separated from one another by a considerable interspace, and having 

 no prominent cirrus. No labial fold to the upper jaw, but a short one on the lower. GiU-openings narrow, not 



