coliv ODONTASPIDIDa;. FISHES. GALEOBHINIDffl. 
insti’uinent into liini ; “ tlie Sliaik instantly turned 
towards tlie boat, and seized it witli ”reat ferocity 
near the bows, in which act several of the teeth were 
broken olf. It was eventually killed by being fre- 
quently lanced.” 
Family— ODON’l’AS PIDID^. 
The term Odontaspis, meaning- “tooth” and 
“ buckler,” is applied to the typical genus ; hence the 
family designation. 'I'he forms here embraced are 
most nearly related to the Mackerel-sharks. 'I’he 
body is, however, more like the ordinary Sharks in 
shape, the tail being prolonged greatly backwards. 
The head is dejnessed, oval, and has a pointed snout. 
There is no nictitating membrane. 'I'he nostrils are 
simple, and situated away from the mouth, which has 
a wide gap. 'I'he teeth are nail-like, with small 
cusps at the base, in each jaw. 'I’he opercular aper- 
tures are five in number, before the pectorals. Con- 
siderably behind the eyes are minute spiracles. 'I’here 
iire two dorsal fins, the first in advance of the ven- 
trals, the second partly anterior to the anal ; the 
caudal fin has a small inferior lobe. 'I’here are no 
pits or keels at the root of the tail. According 
to Gill, there are not more than two living species 
known, one of which is Mediterranean. 
SHOVEL-NOSE SHARK {Eugomphodus litloralis, 
Gill). — Ranges from Maine to Cape llatteras. 
Called, also. Sand Shark. jMitchill described a 
Shark with the characters which belong to this 
genus, and named it Long-toothed Sea Shark 
(Squalus americanus). He says : “This Fish is oc- 
casionally taken at the very city of New York. 'I’he 
teeth of this species are found abundantly in the 
alluvial country of North America. 'I’he long nar- 
row tooth almost resembles a horseshoe nail with its 
two little au.\iliaries at the base.” 'I’his is probably 
identical with the present. 
Family — ALOPECilDAi. 
'I’he term alopecias is used by Pliny to indicate a 
Sea-fox — a kind of Fish. 'I’he exceptionally long- 
tail of the species is the principal character. 
FOX-SHARK; THRESHER [Alo 2 )ues vulpes [Linn.], 
Bon.) — Plate XI, fig. vii. — Called, also. Swingle- 
tail, Sea-fox, Sea-afe ; Per zorro in Cuba, and 
Pesce pavone in Naples. Ranges from Cape Cod 
to Florida. Mitchill described it as Long-tailed 
Shark (Squalus vulpes), his S[)ecimen being thirteen 
feet in length. DeKay describes it as 'I’he Thresher 
Shark (Carcharias vulpes), and says: “'I’he species 
has been noticed on our coast from Nova Scotia to 
New York.” Storer records it as the same, and 
puts the length at from twelve to fifteen feet. We 
have heard of one being caught at Nahant which 
measured twenty feet. It is frequently caught in 
seines in Massachusetts Bay. 'I’he tail of this species 
is fully one half the total length. 
Family— S PH YRNlDiE. 
HAMMER-HEAD SHARK {Sphyrna zygcena [Linn.) 
Mull, and Ilenle) — Plate XI, fig. vi. — Called Cor- 
NUDA in Cuba. Ranges from Cape Cod southward. 
Mitchill says the voracity of this animal may be 
judged of from the following occurrence at Sag Har- 
bor, in September, 1805: “'I’hree Sharks of the 
Shovel-nose species were taken in a net by Mr. 
Joshua 'I’erry. 'I’he largest was eleven feet in length. 
On opening him, many detached parts of a man 
were found in his belly, with portions of clothing.” 
DeKay says : “ It is much dreaded by our fishermen 
for its boldness and ferocity. I have seen them in 
Hell Gate, four feet long.” 'I’he Hammer-head is 
found on both sides of the Atlantic. It ranges from 
the coast of Brazil northwards, but is not seen above 
Cape Cod. 
SHOVEL-HEAD SHARK [Reniceps tiburo [Linn.), 
Gill). — -'I’liis is a species little known, having the 
same range as the preceding. 
Family— GALEORHTNIDA^. 
'I’his family derives its name from the term galeos, 
meaning a “ ravenous Sea-fish,” or a “ Weasel-fish.” 
BLDE SHARK [Eulamia milberti [Mull, and Henle), 
Gill). — Ranges from Cape Cod to Florida. DeKay 
records the Small Blue Shark (Carcharias ceruleus), 
and says :“ 'I’his species is frequently taken in our 
waters, and along the coast to New Hampshire. I 
should be inclined to consider this and the obscurns 
of Leseur as identical, were it not for the teeth, 
which he repre.sents in his plate as having rounded 
shoulders. 'I’hey are at all events closely allied 
species.” As Gill does not record another, but gives 
the obsciirus as distinct, we presume that the present 
species and C. ceruleus are identical. 
DUSKY SHARK [E. obscurus [Leseur), Gill).— 
Ranges from Cape Cod southward. DeKay named 
this Carcharias obscurus; Leseur, the Squalus ob- 
scnrus. Storer describes a specimen captured at 
Nahant, in 1839, which measured nine and a half 
feet. He says it is not a common species in Massa- 
chusetts Bay, but sometimes floats ashore in the 
night, like the Lophius, or Goose-fish, or becomes 
entangled in the Mackerel nets. Aprionodon punc- 
tatus (.Mitch.), Gill, ranges from Cape Cod southward. 
TIGER-SHARK [Galeocerdo tigrinus [Mull, and 
Henle). — Ranges from Cape Cod southward. Called 
Alecriu in Cuba. 
SMOOTH HOUND [Mustelus canis [Mitch.), De- 
Kay). — Called by the above name in Great Britain ; 
and in Massachusetts, Smooth Dog-fish and Blue- 
dog. DeKay calls it 'I’he American Hound-fish. In 
Cuba it is Boca Dulce. Ranges from Cape Cod to 
Hatteras. Mitchill described it as Dog-fish (Squalus 
canis), and measuring sometimes four feet in length. 
Family— SPINACID/E. 
'I’he typical genus, Spinax, giving name to the 
family has the branchial apertures, five in number, 
all in advance of the pectorals. 'I’he spiracle behind 
the eye is large. 'I’liere are two dorsal fins, each with 
a spine in front, the first more or less behind the 
pectorals, the second near the caudal ; the ventral fins 
are I'ar behind ; the anal is absent. Several genera 
are known in various parts of the world; two only, 
however, are found in our waters. “'The European 
