728 PLAGIOSTOMATA— BATOIDEI. 



Family, I— PRISTID^. 



Saw-fishes. 



Snout much produced, flattened, and having a saw-like appearance, due to the existence of large 

 teeth on its lateral edges. 



Dr. J. E. Gray (Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864 * p. 163), described the endoskeleton of one of these teeth forming 

 the saw, but without recognising from whence it had been derived. Professor Kolliker having examined the 

 same specimen microscopically, ascertained it to be part of the endoskeleton of a Plagiostome. The 

 endoskeleton of a tooth of the saw consists of from three to five hollow tubes, tapering towards their extremity, 

 and covered with an osseous deposit which is perforated with fine holes. These teeth vary both in size and number 

 in the same species, rendering them unsuitable as specific, but admissible as individual distuictions. 



Great injuries are inflicted by these fishes, which strike sideways with their formidable snouts ; and 

 although not personally a witness to the fact, I have been informed on native authority, that large ones have 

 been known to cut a bather entirely in two. The largest example I saw was ofi" the coast of Sind (Pristis 

 zysron) : it measured over 16 feet, the rostrum being 4 ft. 2 in. in length. A P. cuspidatus, 14 feet long, 

 captured at Calicut, was found to have a liver weighing 185 lbs. which was taken to the oil factory when I was 

 present. 



At Gwadur, on the Meckran coast, I found that the fishermen of all religions presented the saws of 

 these fishes at a small temple, where they were hung up inside or piled round the outside. The priest was 

 expected to pray for success in their takes and a safe return to shore. At the Andaman Islands the Aborigines 

 wishing to make a suitable ofiering to Mr. Homfray, their superintendent, attacked an enormous saw-fish, which 

 they harpooned, and eventually secured at the risk of their Uves. They presented him with the rostrum. 



Geographical distribution. — Seas of tropical and temperate regions. The Family consists of a single 

 Genus. 



Genus, 1 — Peistis, Latham. 



, Bod/y elongated and depressed. Gill-openings inferior and of moderate ividth. Spiracle wide and posterior 

 to the eye, which latter has no nictitating membrane. Nostrils inferior. Teeth minute and obtuse. Dorsal fin 

 spineless, the first quite or nearly opposite the ventrals : front edge of pectoral free. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



A. — Caudal fi/n with a ddstinct lower lobe. 



1. Pristis cuspidatus — Prom twenty-three to thirty-five pairs of broad teeth on the snout, but none 

 present on its basal fourth or fifth : in the young their hinder edge is barbed. Dorsal fin arises behind the root 

 of the ventral : caudal with a lower lobe. Seas of India to the Malay Archipelago, ascending rivers. 



B. — Caudal fim without any distinct lower lobe, 



2. Pristis Perrotteti — From seventeen to twenty pairs of teeth on the rostrum, commencing at its base. 

 Dorsal fin almost entirely in advance of ventrals. No distinct lower caudal lobe. Tropical seas, enteriug 

 rivers. 



3. Pristis Zysron — From twenty-five to thirty-two pairs of teeth on the rostrum, commencing near its 

 base. Dorsal fin almost entirely posterior to the ventrals. No lower caudal lobe. Seas of India to the 

 Malay Archipelago. 



A. — Caudal fin with a distinct lower lobe. 



1. Pristis cuspidatus, Plate CXCI, fig. 3. 



Pristis cuspidatus, Latham, Trans. Linn. Sc. 1794, ii, p. 279, pi. 26, fig. 3 (rostrum) ; Bl. Schn. p. 351 : 

 Miill. and Henle, p. 107 ; Dumeril, Hist. Nat. Poiss. i, p. 476 ; Giinther, Catal. viii, p. 439. 



Squalus pristis, Russell, Fish. Vizag. i, p. 8, and Yahla, pi. xiii. 



Pristis semisagiUatus, Shaw, Zool. v, 2, p. 361 ; Miill. and Henle, p. 108, pi. Ix (mouth) ; Cant. Catal. 

 Mai. Fish. p. 407 ; Swainson, Fishes, ii, p. 319 ; Bleek. Beng. p. 80, and Plag. p. 63 ; Dumeril, 1. c. p. 477 ; 

 Day, Fish. Malabar, p. 272. 



Rostrum narrow and of about the same width throughout, armed with from twenty-three to thirty-five 

 * See Myriosteon Eigginsu Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. 1870, v, p. 366. 



