ECHINORHINUS OBESUS. 



square ; the ventral fins short, broader behind than at their bases, and their 

 posterior edges slightly undulated ; the caudal fin entire, somewhat trian- 

 gular and slightly falciform, the upper portion high above the line of the 

 back, the lower scarcely below the line of the body immediately in front of 

 it. Lateral line very distinct, commencing above branchial openings, and 

 extending nearly without curve or undulation to the commencement of the 

 caudal fin, from thence it ascends the latter, and extends along it, nearer to 

 its anterior than posterior edge, until it reaches its upper extremity ; at its 

 origin this line is nearer to the middle of the back than the base of the 

 pectoral fin ; to the touch it feels slightly rough, which arises from its being 

 beset with a number of minute prickles, which are most distinctly seen in 

 preserved specimens. The surface of the skin both on the body and fins 

 is more or less sprinkled with strong bony-looking spines, with large cir- 

 cular and flattened bases, which are striated from the centre towards the 

 circumference. These spines vary in size as well as form, some being hooked, 

 others quite straight ; in some places they are disposed in clusters, in others 

 they are solitary, and on the extremity of the muzzle are nearly wanting. The 

 appendages to the ventral fins in the male seldom extend much beyond their 

 posterior margins. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Feet. Inches. 



Length from the tip of the nose 



to the end of the caudal fin 6 



to the eye 



to the first dorsal fin 3 



to the pectoral fins 1 



to the anterior edge of the 



upper jaw 6 



to the base of the ventral fins 3 7i 



n 



eh 



Feet. Inches. 



Distance between the dorsal fins 4<\ 



Length from the hinder edge of the 

 second dorsal fin to the base 



of the caudal fin 4 



of the tail from the base to the 



highest point 1 5^ 



This shark is comparatively rare at the Cape of Good Hope. It is described by the fisher- 

 men as sluggish and unwieldy in its movements, and but seldom to be observed towards the 

 surface of the water. When they obtain specimens, it is generally at a time when they are 

 fishing in deep water, and when the bait with which the hooks are armed is near to the bottom. 

 In this respect it resembles the Scyllia, or ground-sharks ; and, if we were to regard only its 

 internal organization, we should be disposed to consider it as closely allied to that genus. 



