FISH AND FISHERIES, 97 
The Australian forms are small and harmless, as all its representatives 
were. Their teeth are only formed for crushing shells. Although, as 
Mr. Hill observes, “{it is armed at the front of each dorsal fin with a 
strong pointed spine ; the head is bony and hard, and the mouth is filled 
with a pavement of crushing teeth, curiously formed, and it seeks its 
food either amongst the crevices of rocks or on the ground, foraging 
about for shell-fish, cockles, crabs, and other crustacece, and at times will 
examine the edges of rocks just above water-mark in search of shell-fish, 
which its powerful jaws and teeth or plates are admirably adapted for 
crushing. 
“Tt was supposed that Port Jackson alone had this shark, and it is 
the living representative of fish which once populated the Northern 
Seas, wherein the fossil remains are found in multitudes. It has since 
been found in many of the coast bays of Australia, and there are two 
distinct species—the one is much darker than the other in colour. 
“T had occasion to catch it, and tried Long Bay and Botany Bay for 
that purpose, and was successful at both places. At Jervis Bay also I 
succeeded in shooting one in the head whilst in the position of searching 
the rocks with its head out of the water. They are also frequently 
hauled in with the net, and caught also with the hook and line, but are 
of no use, and only interesting from the fact that they are said to be the 
living representatives of what are found in fossil remains. 
“This was one of the early sharks caught in this harbour, and figured 
in Governor Phillip’s time.” —E.S8. H. 
The Shovel-nosed Shark. 
Rhinobatus granulatus or shovel-nose which is properly speaking 
a Ray, is called here the blind or sand shark, though, as Mr. Hill 
remarks, it is not blind. He says “that it attains the length of 6 
to 7 feet, and is also harmless, armed only with teeth resembling 
small white beads secured closely upon a card; it however can see 
tolerably well, and searches on sandy patches for crustacee and small 
shell-fish. It is much more active than the preceding shark, and can 
swim about rapidly, but it chiefly keeps on the bottom, and usually , 
in company on particular grounds with Cestracion, and distinguished by 
the aboriginals from other sharks by the appellation of eragoni—without 
the teeth. It is occasionally brought in with the net of a night, but 
more frequently with hook and line.” 
The Hammer-headed Shark. 
_ None of the Hammer-headed Sharks of Port Jackson are of small size, 
but one specimen in the Brisbane Museum measures over 15 feet in 
length. It differs from other sharks in the shape of the head, which in 
some degree resembles a hammer. The orbits of the eyes project to a 
distance from cach side of the skull, and are placed on either end of the 
hammer, giving to the fish a very odd appearance. It is armed with 
sharp teeth, and roves about at night near to the surface of the water, 
and when hooked it pulls hard and sheers about, no doubt to endeavour 
to cut the line. 
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