332 



TOPI^. 



Squalus Galeus. S. cinereus, subtus paUidiorjf route acuminata, 

 dentibus subtriangularibus. 



Cinereous Shark, paler beneath, with pointed front, and sub- 

 triangular teeth. 



Squalus Galeus. S, naribus ori vicinis, foraminibus ad ocnlos, 

 Lin. Syst, Nati 



Milandre. Broussonet. act, Paris. 1J780. 



Tope. Penn. Brit. Zool. 



This species arrives at a considerable size, often 

 measuring several feet in length, though the speci- 

 mens usually seen about the British coasts scarcely 

 exceed the length of about five feet. In its habits 

 it resembles the white Shark, being a very bold and 

 rapacious fish, attacking such as happen to be ac- 

 cidentally exposed to it with great violence and 

 rapidity : its shape is rather slender ; its colour 

 pale cinereous above, and whitish beneath : the 

 nose long, flat, and pointed : the nostrils are situat- 

 ed near the mouth ; and behind each eye is a small 

 orifice : the teeth are numerous, disposed in three 

 rows, small, very sharp, triangular, and serrated on 

 their inner edge : the first dorsal fin is placed about 

 the middle of the back, and is rather large: the 

 second is small, and situated near the tail, which is 

 small, and terminates in two unequal lobes, of 

 which the lower is by much the broadest. Accord- 

 ing to Rondeletius this fish is so bold as to pursue 

 its prey to the very edge of the shore, and to at- 

 t^ick those wliQ are walking near the water *s side. It 



