Class IV. SPOTTED SHARK. 149 



flat ; the eyes were oblong ; behind each a large 

 orifice opened to the inside of the mouth ; the 

 teeth small, sharp, smooth at their sides, strait, 

 and disposed in four rows ; both the back fins 

 were placed much behind, and nearer the tail 

 than is common ; the tail was finned, and below 

 extended into a sharp angle. The color of the 

 whole upper part of the body, and the fins, was 

 brown, marked with numerous large distinct 

 black spots : some parts of the skin were tinged 

 with red ; the belly was white. The whole was 

 most remarkably round, and had a strong smell. 



The tendrils that issue from each end of the. 

 purse * of this fish, are much more delicate and 

 slender than those of the other, are as fine as 

 Indian grass, and very much resemble it. 



The female of this species, and we believe of 

 other sharks, is greatly superior in size to the 

 male ; so that in this respect there is an agree- 

 ment between the fish and the birds of prey, f 

 They bring about nineteen young at a time : the 

 fishermen believe that they breed at all times of 

 the year, as they scarcely ever take any but 

 what are with young. 



* This is figured in Doctor Shaw's General Zoology, v. 335. 

 tab. 152. Ed. 



f Vide British Zoology, Vol. I. 2l6. 



