RHINODON TYPICUS. 



sufficient to permit of the necessary absorption of the nutritive portion of the in- 

 jesta. The rectum, internally, is quite smooth, and the gland which, in sharks 

 generally, is situated behind it, also exists in this fish, and opens into the gut 

 about six inches from the anus. On each side of the latter there is a large 

 opening, through which a probe can be readily introduced into the cavity of 

 the peritoneum, and into that cavity, it would appear, the sea water enters 

 through these openings, as it contained about eight gallons perfectly pure, or 

 at least only with some animal secretion. 



The liver consists of two lobes nearly of equal size, the length of each 

 three feet and a half; the greatest width thirteen inches, the least six. The 

 gall-bladder is exterior to the substance of the liver, and situated on its con- 

 cave or dorsal aspect, close to its base, before it divides into lobes. It is of a 

 pyriform shape, and the duct is much convoluted, and so large as readily to 

 admit the fore finger of a full-grown man ; it discharges the bile into the 

 upper extremity of the large intestines, and the point where it enters their 

 outer coat is fully two inches higher than that at which it perforates the 

 inner ; the duct between these two points is contracted and tortuous, and the 

 terminal opening is not larger than would admit a pea. 



The spleen is closely connected with the inferior extremity of the stomach 

 and the hinder surface of the small intestines, and, excepting where it winds 

 under the apex of the former, is lobulate, as in the true sharks, and exhibits 

 a striking resemblance to the spleen of Alopias vulpes, Raf. The pancreas is 

 slender, and partially encircles the upper extremity of the large intestines. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Feet. Inches. 



From mouth to 1st dorsal fin 8 6 



1st to 2nd dorsal fin 2 



2nd dorsal to caudal fin 1 8 



Length of upper lohe of tail 4 



lower lobe of tail 2 10 



Distance between tip of nose and 1st 



branchia 2 10 



Distance between tip of nose and eye . 6 

 eye and temporal 



spiracle 4^ 



Width of mouth 2 8 



Feet. Inches. 

 From tip of nose to anterior edge of 



pectoral fin 3 



Length of pectoral fin 3 



Breadth at its base 2 



Height of 1st dorsal fin 1 



Breadth of head about one foot in ad- 

 vance of branchia 3 



Circumference of body immediately 



behind pectoral fins 9 



Circumference of body one foot behind 



pectoral fins 8 



Total length offish 16 



3 

 2 

 

 3 



H 



The stomach was empty, and hence the precise food of the fish could not be 

 ascertained. That a portion of it, at least, is derived from the mollusca, &c, 



