166 
FISHES. CHONDROPT. 
Mustelus. 
differences. Broussonnet and Lacepede consider the S. stellare as the female, 
an opinion probably correct ; but, as both species occur on the southern coast, 
we may hope that some resident naturalist will favour us with a detailed de- 
scription of their peculiarities. Mr Donovan adds, that the lesser spotted 
dog-fish is often captured by the fishermen, in the net, while trawling for flat 
fish. 
Gen. VII. MUSTELUS. Teeth blunt, and closely set. Dor- 
sal-fins without spines. 
^ 9. M. Icevis. Smooth-hound. — Body greyish above, white 
below, and destitute of spots. 
Galeus Mustelus, Sibh. Scot. 23. — Mustelus Isevis, Will. Ich. 60.— S. 
dentibus obtusis seu granulosis, Art. Ich. gen. 66. syn. 93 — S. Muste- 
lus, Linn. Syst. i. 400. Penn. Brit. JZool. iii. 116. Leach., Wern. Mem, 
ii. 63. — *9, Murloch — Found occasionally on all parts of the coast. 
Length about 6 feet. Nose blunt. The branchial apertures above a line 
drawn between the corners of the mouth and the base of the pectorals. The 
pavement of teeth in the mouth (like the skate), readily serves as the distin- 
guishing mark of this species. It is ovoviviparous. In the Hebrides, it is 
used as food, and esteemed a very delicate fish. St. Acct. vol. xii. 322. 
Gen. VIII. SPINAX. Dog-Fish.— Each dorsal-fin with a 
free spine at its anteal margin. Teeth small, with a cut- 
ting edge. 
^ 10. S. Acanthias. Common Dog-fish. — Back greyish-brown, 
belly white. Nostrils not terminal. 
Galeus acanthias, Sibh. Scot. Will. Ich. 56. — Squalus pinna anali nulla, 
corpore subrotundo. Art. Ich. Decs. 102 — S. acanthias, Linn. Syst. i. 
397 Picked Dog-fish, Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 100. — A, Sea-dog ; JV, Hoe. 
— Common, on the coast. 
Length about 3 feet. The snout is long, but blunt. The nostrils are 
placed about midway between the eyes and the end of the snout, with a ven- 
tral aspect This common species is ovoviviparous. 1 ts reproductive organs 
are described by Sir E. Home, Phil. Trans. 1810, p. 205. It abounds, espe- 
cially on the Scottish coast, and is often taken in the herring- nets. Its flesh 
is not unpalatable, and is frequently salted and dried, in the Northern Isles, 
for winter food. A good deal of oil is annually obtained from this species, the 
livers of 20 individuals yielding about a Scotch pint. 
Gen. IX. SCYMNUS. — Dorsal-fins without spines. 
11. ^.horealis. Greenland Shark. — The first dorsal-fin larger 
than the second ; more advanced than the ventrals. 
Squalus carcharias, MvJl. Prod. -ZooL Dan. 38. Fab. Fauna Gr. 1 27'.' Bloch., 
Ich. tab. 119. — S. borealis, Scoresby's Arct. lleg. 558, tab. xv. f. 3. 4 
North of Scotland. 
Length about 14, circumference 8 feet. Colour grey. Eye blue, pupil 
emerald-green. Mouth wide. Teeth in the upper jaw, broad at the base, sud- 
denly becoming narrow and lanceolate with the cutting-edges rough ; in the 
lower jaw the teeth are pyramidal, compressed, the cutting-edges crenulated. 
