MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 483 



broad, and tapered away to an edge below. In this respect, it had some 

 resemblance to the fin of a sea tortoise. 



" The teeth were very sharp ; about three fourths of an inch long, 

 and formed but one row. The body was very cylindrically round, and 

 possessed the great general features of the shark family." 



3. Long-toothed Sea Shark. (Squalus Americanus.) With oblong 

 sharp teeth, each of which has a little one on each side at its base. 



This fish is occasionally taken at the very city of New-York. He, 

 when he comes, frequents a certain place near the great market, on ac- 

 count of the dead fish and offal thrown into the water there. When the 

 people see one of these sharks prowling about, they bait a hook with a 

 piece of meat, or a fish, and not unfrequently catch him. 



The teeth of this species are found abundantly in the alluvial coun- 

 try of North America. They are particularly met with in digging wells, 

 near the Potomac and James river. On the former, they are found as 

 high as Alexandria ; and on the latter, in the city of Richmond itself. 

 The long, sharp, narrow tooth, almost resembling a horse-shoe nail, with 

 its two little auxiliaries at its base, is very plain and characteristic. This 

 I know, by comparing the fossil Virginian species in my possession with 

 those in the jaws of sharks taken at New-York. 



The mouth of one that was killed during the summer of 1813 was 

 nearer the snout than in many other species. Both jaws had five rows 

 of teeth in front. They were nearly an inch long, and not jagged at the 

 sides. Some of them have the rudiments of two little teeth, on each 

 side, at the base. 



4. Green-backed Shark. (Squalus punctatus.) With black dots round 

 the snout and about the mouth. 



Has nasal orifices on each side of the snout, on its lower parts, and 

 forward of the eyes. 



