XOOLOGY. 



181 



ocean, and the mouths of large rivers ; in many of the 

 warmer countries they are the terror of sailors, their size 

 being frequently so great, as to permit them to swallow 

 an entire human body; and they are so numerous, as to be 

 the constant objects of dread, by the inhabitants of those 

 shores they frequent ; the skins of some the kinds are used 

 for rasping and polishing various substances ; they are easily 

 caught by the hook and line, baited with any kind of offal. 



5. Pristus. Saw-Fish. Snout long, flat, with spinous pro- 



jections on the edges ; spiracles four or five on each 

 side ; mouth situated beneath, two oval oriiices behind 

 the eyes .* ventral fins approximated ; anal Jin wanting. 



6. Spatularia. Mouth beneath the head, large, furnished 



with numerous, serrated teeth ; snout elongated ; spi- 

 racle single, on each side of the neck ; in general habits 

 resembling the sharks. . ; . • . 



7. Chima^ra. Head pointed on the upper part; mouth 



beneath ; upper Up hve, cleft; cutting teeth two, in the 

 front of each jaw. 



8. Accipenser. Sturgeon. sloping, with a prominent 



snout ; mouth placed far below, without teeth ; cirri 

 between the end of the snout and the mouth ; bodif 

 long, angular, with numerous rows of bony plates; 

 aperture single on each side. 



The flesh of this genus is in great request as food, and all 

 the species produce the substance, known by the name of 



w 3 



