DOG-FISH. 



89 



most singular form. An egg of one of our British 

 sharks, the Common Dog-fish, is represented on 

 plate H, fig. 4. 



The egg is of a softish, horn-like consistency, 

 so that it is not liable to be broken, or easily to 

 be penetrated. The general shape of the egg 

 has been aptly compared to a pillow-case, with 

 strings tied to the corners; the enclosed pillow 

 being the young shark. The long, curling, 

 tendrilous appendages speedily affix themselves 

 to sea-weeds, or other appropriate substances, and 

 from their form and consistence anchor the egg 



THE DOG-FISH. 



firmly. In order to enable the little shark to 

 breathe, there is an aperture at each end of the 

 shell, through which the water passes in sufficient 

 quantity to renovate the blood. And in order to 

 permit the enclosed fish to make its escape when 

 sufficiently developed, the end of the egg nearest 



