THE FISHES OF NEW JERSEY. S7 



Family CETORHINID^. 



The Basking Sharks. 



Mouth moderate. Teeth numerous, conical, without cusps or 

 serratures. Gill-openings all in front of pectorals. Spiracles 

 very small, above corners of mouth. Brain very small. First 

 dorsal large, midway between pectorals and ventrals. Second 

 dorsal and anal small. Pectorals and ventrals large. 



Sharks of immense size, the largest of living fishes, pelagic, and 

 inhabiting the northern seas. A single genus with one species 

 rarely straying to our shores. 



Genus Cetorhinus Blainville. 



The Basking Sharks. 

 Cetorhinus maximus (Gunner). 



Basking Shark. 



Body fusiform, elongated towards tail. Caudal peduncle 

 keeled. Head small. Snout short, obtuse, glabrous. Eye near 

 margin of upper lip. Mouth very large. Jaws armed with teeth 

 of different forms. Teeth generally curved and turned inwards 

 towards throat, sides slightly edged, without any appearance of 

 distinct and regular serratures. Some small rugosities are per- 

 ceptible on edge only. Upper teeth subconic at anterior extrem- 





Basking Shark. Cetorhinus maximus (Gunner), 



