68 REPORT OF NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 



a little nearer second dorsal than first. Dorsal spines at least 

 two-fifths height of fin, posterior higher. Slaty-gray above, paler 

 below. Length of a male 31 inches. Cape May. 



Color in life of the above described individual was mouse-gray 

 slightly glistening with dull heliotrope-purple reflections, espe- 

 cially on each myomere above. Back also marked sparsely with 

 an irregular series of small whitish spots on each side. Several 

 dull dusky or blackish spots, some nearly as large as pupil, on 

 back. One on nape and caudal peduncle largest and most distinct. 

 Dorsals and caudal a little more grayish than back, also a little 

 paler. Pectorals colored like back above, also with several dusky 

 spots, but below a dirty sandy-white like lower surface of body. 

 Ventrals like lower surface, though only slightly darlier above. 

 Lower surface of caudal peduncle white like that of abdomen. 

 Iris beautiful silvery shading into deep slaty above and below, 

 and also with iridescent reflections. Peritoneum white. 



An abundant winter visitant about Cape May and not yet ob- 

 served in Delaware Bay. They generally arrive at Cape May 

 late in October or early in November. Sometimes more are 

 taken on set-lines with fish-bait than cod, which they follow. 

 Most examples run about 30 inches in length. They were very 

 abundant at Sea Isle City during the winter of 1904-5. Those 

 taken early in the fall were all males, the females apparently 

 coming later. Dr. Dahlgren reports it from off Asbury Park. 



Squalus acanthias Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. N. H., IX, 1897, 



p. 330- 



Sqiiahis aniericanus Abbott, Geol. N. J., 1868, p. 829. 



Family PRISTID^. 

 The Saw Fishes. 



Body elongate, depressed. No nictitating membrane. Teeth 

 in jaws minute, obtuse. Nostrils inferior, no tentacles. Dorsals 

 large, first nearly opposite ventrals. Caudal well developed, bent 

 upward, and a fold of skin along each side of tail. Pectorals 

 moderate, front margin quite free, not extending to head. 



Found in warm seas on sandy shores and sometimes ascending 

 rivers. A single genus and species on our coast. 



