2 HROOKLVX Ml'SKUM SCIENCE Bl'LEETIX 3. I. 
nieinbrane. The gill ca\-ities oi^en to the exterior 1\\- characteristic 
parallel slits on the side of the neck. The nasal ap])aratus is well 
developed, and sharks are more dependent on smell in finding their food 
than nio.st fishes. As a rnle, the\' are rather sluggish, but ca])able of 
attaining great s])eed when excited. Mo.st of them have a formidable 
arra\' of teeth, and eat living food, \ et are read\- to turn to the humble 
role of .scavenger. Few authenticated ca.ses exist of their attacking a 
living man in the water. I'ndoubtedl}- the true man-eater shark, which 
is the large.st species of the mackerel-shark.s— a grou]) containing the most 
active, most voracious, and swifte.st forms — would not hesitate to do so, 
but since this is ever\where a rare fish, it is a ]K)])ular fallac\' to call an\- 
large, fierce-looking shark a "man-eater." From ha\-ing the mouth on 
the lower side of the head, sharks generallx turn on the side or l)ack in 
taking food from the surface of the water. We ha\e, however, .seen 
them .seize floating objects while maintaining their upright ]io,sition, 
though in doing ,so the snout was ])ushed out of the water. vSome s])ecies 
swim near the bottom ; others are found at the surface, often with the big- 
fin on the back, and the end of the tail, out of water. 
The wanderings and migrations of sharks are of great .scientific 
intere.st, and are subjects concerning which ver\- little is known. Indeed, 
a com]irehensive .study of the life hi.stor\- of an\- fish of this interesting 
grouji, has vet to be made. It is therefore exceedingly im])ortant that 
advantage be taken of the o])i)ortunities offered when unfamiliar sharks 
wash ashore, or are captured by fishermen, for it is ahva\'s ])o,ssible that 
a new record ma\' be made, or a new fact learned. It is highlx' desirable 
that some naturalist who is interested in fishes should ha\-e an op]iortunit\' 
to see anv large or strange shark which ma\- be taken in Long Island 
waters. The de])artnient of natural .science of The Brooklxn Mu.sevun 
welcomes communications on such matters. In the jia.st, members of 
various government Life-vSaving stations have sometimes been of much 
.service to the cau.se of .science b\- notifying the ])ro])er institution or 
individual of their cajttures. The first shark in the jtresent li.st, for 
in.stance, is known in the western hemisphere onl\- from an exam]ile 
ol)tained b>- the Amagan.sett Coast (luards. 
The s])ecies of sharks described in this Bulletin are re]M-esentati\-es of 
nine families. The first, P.seudotriakidtc, is known from but two 
individuals, one of which was taken on Long Island. 
The (laleitUe, or re(|uiem-sharks, re])resente(i b\ the smooth dogfish, 
dusk\- shark, etc., contain the bulk of modern sharks. The s])ecies are 
