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XII. An anatomical Account of the Squalus maximus (of Lin- 
naeus ) , which in the Structure of its Stomach forms an inter- 
mediate Link in the Gradation of Animals between the fVhale 
Tribe and cartilaginous Fishes. By Everard Home, Esq. 
F. R. S. 
Read May 11, 1809. 
The fish from which the following account is taken, was 
entangled in the herring nets belonging to the fishermen of 
Hastings, off that coast, and about half-way across the Chan- 
nel, on the night of the 13th of November, 1808. It was 
brought ashore at Hastings on the following' day, and my late 
worthy friend, Lieut. Col. Bothwell, who was on the spot, 
purchased it on my account. On the 17th, Mr. Clift, the 
Conservator of the Hunterian Museum, at my desire, went to 
Hastings, and after making a drawing of the fish, examined 
its internal structure, and brought to London such parts as 
were most particularly deserving of notice. 
The fish is a male, thirty feet six inches long from the an- 
terior part of the head, to the longest extremity of the tail, 
and about nine feet from the extreme point of the dorsal fin 
to the middle line of the belly. 
The skin is of a dirty blue, or light slate colour ; as rough 
as a new file in the direction from the tail to the head, but 
having a sattiny feel in the opposite direction. On the belly 
the skin is white, thick, and very strong. 
The mouth is about five feet from one angle to the other. 
There are six rows of teeth towards the middle of each side 
