354 



PVith dilated head, 



HAMMER-HEADED SHARK. 



Squalus Zygaena. S. capite transversa latissimo. 

 Shark with very broad transyerse head. 



Squalus Zyggena. capite latissimo transverso maUeifortnh 



Lin, Si/st, Nat. 

 Zygaena, Rondel. Gesn. Aldr. Will. S^c. 

 Squalus capite malleiformi. Block, t. WJ. 



Perhaps the most deformed of all the marine 

 animals : length from five to fifteen or seventeen 

 feet: habit rather slender: body subcylindric : head 

 dilated on each side to a great extent : the eyes,, 

 which are very large,, being placed at each ex- 

 tremity : mouth beneath, as in other Sharks teeth 

 sharp, denticulated on each side, and disposed in 

 three rows in each jaw : first dorsal fin rather large^ 

 of a somewhat falcated shape, and placed towards 

 the upper part of the back : the second much 

 smaller, and situated near the tail, wliich is rather 

 short than long, and lobed beneath, the fm running 

 on nearly as far as the vent r colour brown above, 

 paler or whitish beneath. Native of the Mediter- 

 ranean and Indian seas, where it is scarcely less 

 voracious and formidable than even the White 

 Shark itself ; attacking such as are accidentally ex- 

 posed to its fury, or are incautiously bathing 

 swimming in its neighbourhood. It is observed 

 about the coasts of the Southern Islands, and par- 

 ticularly of Otaheitee, where the natives, trusting 

 to their dexterity in swimming, appear to hold it 



