MITCHILL ON THE FISHES OF NEW-YORK. 485 



raised and lowered a little like a latteen sail. Situated about the middle 

 of the back. The second dorsal membranous, somewhat adipose, and 

 of a rhomboidal figure. Two ventral fins, with their parallel processes, 

 conceal the anus. An anal fin corresponding to the second dorsal. 



The caudal fin very unequally divided ; the upper section being al- 

 most thrice as large as the lower, and having a process on the lower 

 side. 



The length of the individual from which this description is taken, was 

 two feet nine inches. Breadth across from the tip of the pectoral fins, 

 thirteen inches. Depth from the point of the dorsal, through the belly, 

 nine. Girth, twelve and a half. Length of the longer division of the tail, 

 eight. Is said to grow to two or three times this size. 



Five lateral spiracles. Distance from the upper lip to the extremity 

 of the nose, two inches and a half. / 



5. White Shark. (Squalus carcharias.) With snout somewhat blunt, 

 and triangular serrated teeth. 



Is sometimes caught within our waters ; being supposed to follow ves- 

 sels coming from sea. 



The teeth are triangular, with jagged edges ; and some of the points 

 are a little awry, from the figure of an even or regular angle. They are 

 commonly disposed in four rows, which are parallel, and which cover 

 each other. 



But on the subject of shark's teeth, I must observe, that they do not 

 afford good characters to distinguish species ; for I have now lying before 

 me, the jaws of a shark killed at sea, and presented to me by a ship- 

 master, which contains both sorts of teeth, that is, the jagged and ob- 

 lique triangular in the upper, and the oblong and sharp-pointed in the 

 lower. But none of them have the minute side teeth which distinguish- 

 ed the the long-toothed shark, before described. 



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