DOG-FISHES. 457 
affords so large a quantity of gelatinous matter, that one part of isinglass 
gis in a hundred parts of boiling water will form a stiff jelly when 
cold. 
Caviare is made from the roe of this fish, and as nearly three millions of 
eggs have been taken from a single fish, the amount of caviare that one 
Sturgeon can afford is rather large. 
The body of the Sturgeon is elongated, and slightly five-sided from the 
head to the tail. Along 
the body run five rows 
of flattened bony plates, 
each plate being mark- 
ed with slight grooves 
in a radiating fashion, 
and having a pointed 
and partly conical spine 
on each plate, the 
points being directed 
towards the tail. The 
plates along the sum- 
mit of the back are the 
largest. 
THE fishes belonging to the next group have their gills fixed by their 
outer edge to the divisions in the gill-openings at the side of the neck. This 
group includes the Sharks and the Rays, many representatives of which 
creatures are found on the British coasts. 
The first family of this large and important group is known by the name 
of Scyllidee, and its members can be recognized by several distinguishing 
characteristics. They have spout-holes on the head, and the gill-openings 
are five in number on each side. Sometimes there only seein to be four 
openings, but on closer examination the fourth and fifth are found set closely 
together, the opening of the fifth appearing within that of the fourth. The 
teeth are sharp and pointed, and the tail is long, notched on the outer side, 
and is not furnished with a fin, 
One of the commonest British species is the LITTLE DOG-FIsH, called by 
several other names, as is usual with a familiar species that is found in many 
localities. Among such 
names are SMALL SPOTTED 
Doc-FISH, LESSER SPOT- 
TED SHARK, MorGay, and 
Rosin Huss. 
This fish is plentiful on 
our coasts, especially in the 
southern extremity of Eng- 
land, and is often thought a 
great nuisance by fishermen, 
whose bait it takes instead 
of the more valuable fish 
for which the hook was set. 
It generally remains near the bottom of the water, and is a voracious creature, 
feeding upon crustaceans and small fish. It often follows the shoals of 
migrating fish, and on account of that custom is called the Dog-fish, 
Generally its flesh is neglected, but when properly dressed it is by no means 
unpalatable, and is said to be sometimes trimmed and dressed in fraudulent 
imitation of more valuable fish. 
The skin of this and other similar species is rough and tile-iike, and 19 
STURGEON.—(Acipenser attilus.) 
LITTLE DOG FISH. —(Scydlium caniculum.) 
