298 
CARTILAGINEI. CHIMiERAD^. 
and silvery- white beneath ; the plates are bone- 
white. 
Family II. Chtm^rad.®. 
{Chimeras.) 
The name Chimcera^ that of a monstrous com- 
pound being in classic fable^ was applied by 
Linnaeus to a cartilaginous fish, on account of 
its singular and uncouth appearance. One species 
alone was known to him, a native of the northern 
seas, but a second, if not a third, has since been 
added from the southern hemisphere. 
The Chimceradce have much resemblance to the 
Sharks in external appearance ; having the same 
general form, and nearly the same arrangement 
of the fins. In the peculiarities of their respira- 
tory organs, they hold an intermediate place be- 
tween these fishes and the Sturgeons, for while 
there is only one external gill-aperture on each 
side, yet the gills are not properly free, but ad- 
here by portions of their edges, so as to leave 
five openings communicating with the external 
aperture. Their jaws are merely rudimentary ; 
hard undivided plates supply the place of teeth, 
four above and two below. 
Genus Chimjera. (Linn.) 
The body is lengthened, terminating in a 
slender filament; there are two dorsals, the first 
short, high, and preceded by a stout spine ; the 
second low and very long. The males are dis- 
tinguished by three pointed bony appendages to 
