166 GaliEods. FISHES. Spin acids. 
membranes. The single dorsal stands behind the ven- 
trals, and partly before the front of the anal. The long 
caudal is notched near the obliquely docked end, and 
lias a small under lobe. The teeth are strongly ser- 
rated. One genus, Hexanclius. has six stigmata ; the 
other, He 2 )tanGhus, has seven. One species, the Gray 
Notidanus [Hexanclius griseus), has been taken off the 
Isle of Wight and also on the Cornish coast. 
and malt, at aught, nine, or ten pounds the boll, and 
all other meats also very dear.” 
Family XV.— SCYMNIDS [Scymnidee). 
With the same number of fins and spout-holes as 
the Spinacids, this family is recognized by the absence 
of spines in the dorsals. The upper teeth are pointed ; 
the lower ones trenchant and not denticulated. 
The genera are — Scymnus; Lmmargus ; Echinorhinus ; and 
Pristiophorus. 
Family XIV.— SPINACIDS [Spinacida;). 
This family and the two which immediately succeed 
it form a division of the Sharks which is characterized 
Valentine’s Sea-hound [Scymnus lichid) is reported 
by Muller and Henle as having spout-holes and two 
to have been taken on the British coasts, but details 
dorsals, but neither anal nor nictitating membrane. 
are wanting. The Greenland Shark [Lcemargus bore- 
All the five stigmata are before the pectorals, and the 
alls) has been several times captured in the Scottish 
intestinal valve is scalariform. The Spinacids are dis- 
seas ; and the Spinous Shark [Echinorhinus spinosus) 
tinguished from the other two families by having a 
has been caught off Yorkshire and on the Cornish 
stout spine in front of each dorsal. 
coasts. 
Pristiophorus is a genus differing remarkably from 
The genera are — Acanihias ; Spinax ; Centrina ; Centro- 
the rest of the group in having the snout elongated 
phorus; and Centroscyllium. 
like a flat sword-blade, set on each side with sharp 
The Picked Dog-fish [Acanthias vulgaris) is very 
common on our coasts, so abundant, that Mr. Couch 
slender teeth of different lengths. 
says he has known twenty thousand to have been 
taken at one cast of the sean. At one time these Dog- 
Family XVI.— SQUATINIDS [Sguatinidm). 
fishes committed such ravages on the fisheries of Fin- 
Head and body depressed ; the broad pectorals and 
mark that eight vessels were fitted out expressly for 
ventrals laterally spread out so as to resemble the 
their capture, and though many thousands were taken 
Rays ; the stigmata ensconced in the deep slit that 
there was no sensible diminution of their numbers. 
separates the pectorals from the head, but not opening 
This species would appear to be extremely prolific 
on the ventral aspect as in the Rays. The large spout- 
periodically, and to have been no less annoying to 
the fishermen formerly than in later times. In the 
holes are behind the eyes, which are on the dorsal 
aspect, and the mouth transversely cleft is at the 
“Domestic Annals of Scotland” by Robert Chalmers, we 
extremity of the snout. There is no anal fin. The 
find the following quotation from the Journal of Spal- 
family is represented by a single genus and species 
ding, the Town-clerk of Aberdeen: — “ 1642. From 
called the Angel-fish (^Squatina angelus), which occurs 
the beginning of this year up to June there was a 
in considerable numbers on our coasts and is very 
scarcity of white-fish along the east coast, to the hurt 
voracious, devouring ground-fishes greedily. 
and hunger of the poor, and beggaring of the fishermen. 
A shark caught at Bermuda measured eighteen feet 
It was reported that when the fishers had laid their 
in length, and its jaws, when extended to the utmost, 
lines and taken fishes abundantly, there came ane beast 
admitted three grown-up persons fo stand upright 
called the Sea-dog to the lines, and ate and destroyed 
between them : and the Rangoon Chronicle of the ,Srd 
the haill bodies, and left nothing on the lines but the 
March, 1854, mentions the capture of a shark of those 
heads. A judgment surely from God Almighty, for 
seas which had a length of thirty-five feet — (Simmons, 
the like scarcity of fishes to continue so long has scarcely 
Cur. of Food). Dr. Barclay describes some fragments 
been seen in Scotland ; whilk bred great dearth of meal 
of an enormous shark. 
Order XTI. — BATIDES (Kays or Skates). 
This order, named Rochen or Raive by Muller and 
altogether absent. Muller and Henle gi'oup them in 
Itenle, is composed of flatly-depressed Plagiostomes, 
having spout-holes, five stigmata of a side opening on 
the ventral aspect under the pectorals ; a complete 
the following way : — 
A. Plrst division. — Squatinoraije. — Batides having the 
head elongated into a flat snout ; and a robust, fleshy 
tail with lateral keels ; two dorsals and a terminal fin 
scapulo-coracoid girdle soldered above to the vertebrae 
adjoining the skull ; a cephalopterous cartilage, and 
the upper eyelids either closely adherent to the eye or 
supported by rays. The teeth are flat, resembling a 
mosaic pavement ; and the upper eyelids are adnate. 
Tlie families are — Pristida: and Rhinobatida:. 
