37 
ALOPECIAS. 
This is a genus established hy Muller and Henle, and described as 
with a pointed, conic head, very small spiracles, small gill openings, 
and simple triangular teeth, but particularly marked by a very great 
extension of the tail. It is the genus miopias of Itafinesque and 
Swainson; but the latter writers had overlooked the very small spiracles. 
THRASHER. 
SEA FOX. FOX SHARK. SEA APE. 
Carcliarias vulpes, 
Vulpecula marina, 
Vulpes marina, 
Squalus vulpes, 
it it 
8 quale Benard, 
ti ({ 
CuVIEE. Flemino; p. 167. 
Jon SION; p. 27. 
■WiLtouGiiBY; p. 64, Tab. B. 6, the figure 
tolerably correct, except in the tail. 
Jenyns; p. 498. 
Taeeell; British Pishes, vol. ii., p. 622. 
Lacepede and Eisso; Ichth., p. 36. 
Gray; Catalogue of British Museum, p. 130 
This fish has obtained the name of Fox Shark because of 
its tail, M'hich, like that of its namesake of the land, is a prin- 
cipal portion of its distinctive character. But the ancient Greeks 
and Komans, who were Avell acquainted with the fish, were not 
content with finding in it nothing more than this likeness of 
analogy; and therefore they went on to draw the conclusion 
' that a fish answering to this name must of necessity be endowed 
with the other distinguishing portions of the foxine character. 
This fish is not recognised in the tenth edition of the System 
of Linnseus, but it is the Squalus vulpes of Turton’s Linmeus. 
The Thrasher, or Sea Fox, is so very rarely taken on a line, 
that no instance of it has come within my knowledge; but the 
reason of this probably amounts to no more than that fishermen 
do not employ the bait that tempts its appetite. jElian, how- 
